california: You would think they would learn. Taxes in both states are astronomical and their states are still in deep financial trouble. The NY legislature has been predominantly Democrat for decades now and California has always "enjoyed" the same, with huge majorities for over a decade. Does that make sense to you?|||I am from NY state and I can think of a few reasons...1) there is a large population on public assistance in the cities here, and these people will always vote for those who will prolong their freebies...2) Much of the upstate cities like Buffalo, Syracuse, Binghamton, etc, are very blue collar, union-oriented cites, and 3) Many of the older people in these cities still believe that the Democrats are for the blue collar working man (although they are not anymore). If you were to ever look at a political map of NY you would notice that most of the counties vote Republican, except for NYC and a few of the larger cities...basically, NYC dictates what happens for the entire state...in a true to life version of "tyranny of the majority". This state sucks and I hope to get out someday. @ g - Come to Buffalo or Syracuse or Binghamton or Jamestown or Elmira someday and see how "high" the standard of living is in these places...it is pathetic, in many of these places $10/hr is a great wage...and the taxes are amongst the highest in the country.|||Both states have very strong municipal unions that have huge pensions and health benefits, much more than the private sector. In 2010, neither state can afford the union demands and should lock everyone out. Police and firemen have held the state hostage. I know the state can hire people who would work for a reasonable wage without a union. I think that is what is draining the state coffers, that, plus crooked politicians like the one we just heard about in L.A. county who conned the voters into making Bell a charter city so he could manipulate his salary. It is disgusting with so many Californians hard up, and social services, schools, public services, all going downhill, police getting laid off, schools closing, classes bulging, tuition at college increasing, the state still in a budget deficit even after 7 years of a Republican governor who would not raise taxes and so social spending has dropped to a new low. The Democrats have compromised as much as possible. both states have a great immigrant population which gets public benefits citizens dont get. These are leftover "Great Society" ideals from the 1960s which have run their course. The state of California is acting like this is the prosperous 60s and 70s pre-China days. Taxes are lower than they were 20 and 30 years ago and there is still a deficit. It did not help to throw Gray Davis out on a recall. He was sandbagged.|||Or. You can live in a state like Florida that has been run lock stock and barrel by the right wing of the Republican party for the better part of 15 years. There are almost no taxes on anything, the state government is watered down, run and structured like a corporation, it provides almost no services and consistently scores low on the services it's obligated to provide. And We have a surplus, the economy is boomi.....oh wait....there are no jobs, and the state had to take stimulus money to close it's budget deficit. God bless capitalism.|||Does not make sense to me but they have created an atmosphere where the Moochers vote for the Looters to take money from the Producers. Everybody seem to have their hand out says "Where's Mine". If you work hard & succeed, their are those who choose to not work as hard waiting for the government to take your money to give it to them. This country was built on hard work, we need to value hard work again.|||They're parasites. And why don't they care about state's rights? They want to pass their bill to all of us. Plus, a lot of these people want to get rid of the electoral college. Uh huh. The popular vote is why they're screwing you, Stu. Parasites breed faster, because they're not paying for it--the host gets that pleasure.|||they also enjoy a very high standard of living and very high wages... I guess like like big paychecks and driving nice cars? there are many red states that are in debt too... granted not as much, of course, they don't bring in NEARLY as much money either... I wonder how it would be relatively? debt to revenue?|||You have A LOT of people that have become used to those entitlements & once they are "hooked" they will fight tooth & nail to keep them (even if it means worsening the problem..see Greece as an example). As a species we are very short sighted & selfish.|||Because Republicans lack solutions and ideas.|||It's a side effect of botox injections and silicone implants.|||Because democrats are the real party that have no solutions or ideas. Just look at Congress. They're horrible for our country.