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SickOfTheOnePct

(7,877 posts)
15. I think there needs to be more clarity...
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 09:42 AM
Tuesday

...on the type of spending that places states into the taker category.

Take West Virginia (red state), for example. Median income of ~$32,000, population of ~1.8 million, ~1,200 active duty military members, and ~26,000 federal employees

Low income, small population -> not much going to the federal government in taxes
Small federal/military workforce (~1.5%) -> not much coming into the state for federal/military salaries

Based on these numbers, it's fair to assume that the ~$20 billion that WV received in excess of what they paid in 2023 was weighted heavily towards social programs (TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, etc.)

Now look at Hawaii (blue state).

Median income of ~$44,000, population of ~1.5 million, ~55,000 active duty military members, and ~25,000 federal employees.

Low income, small population -> not much going to the federal government in taxes
Decent size federal/military workforce (~5.3%) -> larger amount of money into the state for federal/military salaries

Based on those numbers, it's fair to assume that the ~$11 billion that HI received in excess of what they paid in 2023 was weighted much less towards social programs than the money in WV.

All of this is just to say that it's not enough to look at the numbers, we have to look at what's behind the numbers, because all taker states are not created equal as to why they're taker states.


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I'm confused... SickOfTheOnePct Tuesday #1
I think they are comparing "net" differential BumRushDaShow Tuesday #4
Yes, that's the data I was looking at SickOfTheOnePct Tuesday #5
Oh I looked at it before posting the link BumRushDaShow Tuesday #6
I've been in that rabbit hole for a few days now SickOfTheOnePct Tuesday #7
And that's the kicker BumRushDaShow Tuesday #10
Exactly! SickOfTheOnePct Tuesday #11
The Dem leaders who gave us the biggest victories FDR/LBJ speak easy Tuesday #2
Agreed. Show the enemy no quarter. Take no prisoners Walleye Tuesday #3
we are all americans et tu Tuesday #8
No. We did not move forward with the segregationists, speak easy Tuesday #22
I've said for years the Democrats need another LBJ! slightlv Tuesday #23
LBJ got a lot done and passed good things Tree Lady Tuesday #28
And he had one hell of a mouth on him... slightlv Tuesday #29
Newsome should start using the trade deficit analogy that Trump uses Historic NY Tuesday #9
I'm probably alone in this opinion... SickOfTheOnePct Tuesday #13
GovNewsom is an in your face defender of Democracy who can communicate his/our message NoMoreRepugs Tuesday #12
Better late than never Johnny2X2X Tuesday #14
I think there needs to be more clarity... SickOfTheOnePct Tuesday #15
Nope Johnny2X2X Tuesday #17
That's one way... SickOfTheOnePct Tuesday #18
Intellectual honesty in policy Johnny2X2X Tuesday #19
Using this logic... SickOfTheOnePct Tuesday #20
I'm talking about a wider range of metrics than taker or donor Johnny2X2X Tuesday #21
Thanks to TV and now digital devices and the Internet, slightlv Tuesday #24
Agree Johnny2X2X Tuesday #25
I got to visit San Diego... seems like a lifetime ago! slightlv Tuesday #27
I think the problem BumRushDaShow Tuesday #16
Time to build a coalition of blue ShepKat Tuesday #26
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