In most elections in the US only about 1/3 - 2/3 of eligible voters vote, give or take depending on whether it is a local election year, congressional, or presidential. Anything over 2/3 is considered very high turnout. So basically 1/3 of eligible people never vote, for various reasons.
But people rarely discuss the people who are NOT eligible to vote. These are largely the people most at risk, the people at the fringes of society. Roughly 20% of the population are children under 18, so they can’t vote. But there are also large numbers of people disenfranchised due to criminal conviction, and there are millions of immigrants - with documentation or without - who cannot vote.
Very roughly speaking, in the highest turnout elections of about 320 million people living in this country about 160 million people will vote. So in the 2024 election the 2 candidates had effectively 24.9% for one and 24.2% for the other.
When people talk about a mandate to govern that is what they are talking about. Less than 1 in 4 people voted for them. That wouldn’t seem fair in a 3rd grade classroom election.
People should be taught that in a representative democracy even the voters are representatives of other people. That they have a duty beyond their own personal preferences to do what is right for the body as a whole.
Seems to be a failure of the education system. A government "by the people" can only work if "the people" have some idea of how government works and how it affects their lives.
Stefanik has spent her entire congressional career voting against providing more healthcare for the people in her district.
I don’t remember the exact number but she has voted against the ACA, or voted to repeal the ACA about 100 times.
The White House and Republicans have denied that their budgets cut Medicare or Medicaid, but the facts show that effectively Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA are being cut - and that has terrible consequences for the people in NY21 who are on average older, poorer, and more in need of those services than the average district. Those cuts will also hurt our rural healthcare system, healthcare workers will lose jobs, and we will be set on a faster downward spiral.
I resigned my last job in 2016 (at age 62) to pursue a solution to health problems which my former quack primary care physician (and his recommended specialists) failed to diagnose correctly for a couple decades. My financial plan while being unemployed included money set aside to pay healthcare premiums out-of-pocket. By chance, I applied for ACA coverage and was overjoyed to be eligible, especially for all the new tests and treatments in my future. In 2018, at 64, I was approved for Social Security disability payments -- another pleasant surprise -- and was placed on Medicare (I also paid for a Medicare Advantage Plan). The ACA was a godsend. I worked nearly my entire life -- from the 5th grade paper route (135 customers) to decades in professional and blue-collar jobs to working off the books during periods of unemployment, with lots of $$$$ deducted for taxes as well as property/school taxes since buying my first house in 1993. The ACA should be strengthened, not stripped, and anyone who favors its demise should be cut off from ALL government programs that they're undoubtedly collecting while vomiting up lies such as illegal immigrants getting ACA, Social Security, et. al. benefits. That is a mental illness, not a medical sickness.
Wouldnt that appear to be a good topic for any Democrat running against her? OR if the Dem "powerful" possibly started actually working for EVERY Dem running rather than swing states etc.
What you fail to state is democrats are even more unpopular than Republicans. It makes total sense when your policies are not popular with the people. Your agenda can’t be to hate Trump and offer nothing more to the American taxpayer. The ACA was never all that popular and now that we know it’s just a portal for illegals to siphon federal monies for healthcare it’s even more unpopular. It was all built on lies anyway. I think some people like to forget - “if you like your plan, you can keep your plan. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. You will save $2400 a year.” The subsidies need to go away. As for the Medicaid cuts, entitlements are the largest federal debt we have. You do remember we are $37T in debt????? Removing illegals from Medicaid payouts is only right. The only party looking to cut rural area funding are the democrats. It’s stated in black and white their desire to cut the $50B fund for rural hospitals. Lastly, you do remember who has been in power in NY for me at decades - Cuomo and Jochul? My home state which I often visit from business friendly NC is consistently one of the worst places to live in the country. You drag Stefanik through the mud but you fail to remember just how low Democrat governing has hurt NY. Don’t you think it’s time for a new direction? I do!
No, the part about illegalss being on Obama care - not factually accurate - or that the Affordable Healthcare Act is unpopular. It is actually very popular. And if you approve of congressional representatives lying all the time, well, Stefanik is your girl.
Yes it is true! If you approve of Marxists running your state than Jochul is yours. So glad I left NY long ago. Jochul can’t go a day without telling one.
Ken, let me save you the pain of verifying Homiak's fake data in his diatribes and lies as related to his source (www.richstatespoorstatesblahblahblah) and about "illegals" on government programs. The report he cites is a bunch of right-wing BS from some scam organization called the American Legislative Exchange Council whose dues-paying members are a "Who's Who in Destroying Democracy" -- GOP/Conservative malcontents, lobbyists, large corporations, bogus patriots, obscenely rich autocrats and so on. My internet search found so many criticisms of this horrid organization that it hurt my eyes to read it. I'll paste below what mediabiasfactcheck.com wrote about ALEC and its ludicrous mission. As for Homiak, I'm surprised he coughed up the 50 bucks to participate in this substack; can you refund his money so we don't have to put up with his blatant lies? LOL. I'm all for fact-based opinions, but not blatant lies based on conspiracy theories. It's more proof of how MAGAts have been directed to infiltrate every corner of America -- from every level of government to social circles to dog catcher. Here is the promised info: "These media sources are moderate to strongly biased toward conservative causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports, and omit information that may damage conservative causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Right Bias sources.
"Overall, we rate ALEC as right-biased based on political affiliation and reporting that consistently favors the right. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to not aligning with the scientific consensus on environmental issues."
Nope - long long time ago on one of the Wild Horse sites. Dont really watch CNN or MSNBC - dont get cable! See the clips on UTube - along with the many many from Faux Entertainment.
And all of your “data” comes from left wing propaganda sites. You know the ones that said the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation and 51 “intelligence” officials stating the same. Oh and Russia collusion lie! Your media outlets have no credibility. The people stopped believing the lies and propaganda of democrat politicians and media. On Nov 5, 2024 they made their decision.
I would hate to be you, and be spending my days swallowing so much disinformation that I could no longer take a few steps back and think critically. Your anger keeps you from seeing things that are right in front of you. But have you ever wondered who is keeping you so angry and why? Have you ever heard the Latin phrase “cui bono?” It means “who benefits.” The current Republican and right wing outrage machine is working overtime to keep you blinded to what is happening as the billionaire class turns our government for the people into one that works only for them.
No one here has ever said that Democrats in general or any Democrats in particular have all the answers or are, like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way. But they are the only ones apparently who still remember and care about the America we all grew up in. Think long and hard about who is really benefiting from the way things are now. Certainly Trump is, financially, to the tune of billions of dollars, through things like his crypto shenanigans, and selling access to him by increasing the club membership at Mar-a-Lago to a million dollars apiece, just to name two things. And if you don’t know what his crypto shenanigans are, because I highly doubt any of your sources would dare to enlighten you to them, please type World Liberty Financial, United Arab Emirates and chip deal into your search engine and do some reading. I bet you were one of those folks who was all up in arms about the “Biden crime family.” Whatever it was you believed about Biden, this will make him seem like a choir boy.
Left wing blather ! But you keep believing your globalist talking points. CNN has you all twisted up. I am enjoying your fits of rage. We had to deal with 4 years of Democrat corruption and the people had enough. You keep living in your echo chamber. You have nothing left but violence.
What business are you conducting in N Carolina? Or did you spend most of your working life in NY, the state with the highest per capita GDP, the 3rd largest overall GDP, a state with $15.50 minimum wage vs the $7.25 min wage in N Carolina. 2024 per capita gdp in NY was $117k vs NC at $73k. 2023 median household income in NY was $82,095 vs $70,804 in NC.
Yes the tax burden in NY is higher, per capita NYers pay $5,927 vs $3,744 in NC, a difference of $2,179 less tax in NC but if you subtract that from median household income NYers have about $10,000 more in income after taxes.
NY provides excess tax revenue to the federal government to pay for poorer states for things like SNAP and WIC, or when they have emergency needs like the hurricane that wiped out much of the area around Asheville - money that Trump’s FEMA has been very slow in providing to needy families in NC.
I suspect that you aren’t really working at all, but rather living off of savings and/or a pension earned in NY, perhaps Social Security earned at a higher rate in better paid NY, and you probably get socialized healthcare through Medicare or Medicaid.
If things are so great there, why are so many people leaving the state? I grew up in NY, moved to Boston and then to Minneapolis. Nothing was affordable. I moved to NC in 2014. I will never live in the north again. Once you again you are wrong. I left NY when I was 22 because there was no opportunity. Worked in Boston for 20 years back when the avg cost of a home there was $450k. Realized I could not afford to live there and moved to MPS. Lived there for 8 years and decided it was time to move south as taxes continued to rise. I work for a living pal. You seem to forget who was in office when Helene hit my area. It was dementia Joe. They were the ones who failed the people. But let me tell you how much it activated the voters in WNC to vote for Trump and hand him NC. I live 20 miles away from where Helene hit. I had to have a new roof put on. You have no idea what you’re talking about.
Interesting, you haven’t disputed the facts I provided, but resort to telling me about your feelings.
Yes, Trump misled the public about FEMA aid in the aftermath of Helene and desperate people believed him. But Trump’s FEMA is not delivering the support they need in a timely fashion. It was despicable for him to use a disaster in that way.
People have been leaving NY in large numbers since colonial times. They also move here in large numbers.
Since the 60’s as the reforms of the Civil Rights movement have taken hold, as the use of air-conditioning has become pervasive and as workers in progressive states earned enough money to live in retirement in low wage conservative states many people have moved south. As a consequence Florida has gained population from a lot of retired NY residents but NY still has higher GDP. And as Florida filled up more people moved to places like NC.
Anyway, what business are you in? Who is your employer? Where are your markets? How is the economy treating your business?
You and I are never going to agree on anything so why would I waste my time researching your drivel. I know my situation and they are not feelings, they are facts! The ALEC report is enough for me in addition to my experiences in those states. The only despicable people are from the Democrat party. Just like your boy in NYC. I’m sure you love him. But he certainly has Jochul and Schumer in a squeeze. I work in what is considered the Silicon Valley of the east coast in the heart of FOC country.
After doing a little more research, I realized that while you were an “intergalactic space pirate deck hand” I was working at IP during the summer while I was going to college. I’m sure you know what IP stands for since it was just down the road from you. I’m sure your chicken coop forge utopia is a very special place for you. Bless your heart!
As for what you suspect. You are way off base. I made nothing in NY. Everything I made happened outside of NY. I’ve worked for major corporations my entire career and continue to do so. My healthcare is through my employer which is staying flat to last years premium. Don’t need social security because I’ve saved for retirement but I will take it because I paid into it for 40 years. My pension is through my NC employer. I have never been in a better position in my entire life than living in NC.
I just love to hear about medicaid and the other social programs called "entitlements". Those "entitlements" are what I and my employers paid into for all my working life! So, yes, I guess I am entitled to Social Security, Medicaid etc. As is anyone else that has paid into FICA for years. In case you are unaware of what the payroll deduction for FICA is:
""FICA, or the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, is a U.S. federal payroll tax that mandates employers to withhold taxes from employee paychecks. It primarily funds Social Security and Medicare programs, providing benefits to retirees and the disabled. FICA was enacted in 1935 and requires both employees and employers to contribute a portion of earnings to these programs.""
ALEC? Not exactly a "bi-partisan" organization! Very biased.
Another liberal echo chamber phrase! You just don’t like to hear what I’m referencing so you try to downplay it. We had four yeas of your attempts at renaming and what did it get you? Four more years of Trump. LOL! Just remember - if there was no Biden, there would’ve been no Trump! Paybacks a bitch ain’t it!
Whataboutism is what it’s called when someone tries to deflect criticism or to send a discussion off course by bringing up unrelated questions and/or accusations. As your above reply so neatly illustrates.
You all can stay in your little liberal echo chamber and bounce your ideology back and forth to one another. A majority of the country doesn’t agree with you. Thank God!!!!
Whataboutism is a tactic a liberal uses when they don’t like or can’t respond to a counter to their argument! Everyone in your little echo chamber is batshit crazy! SO glad I moved out of Saratoga County long ago.
So the police say they'll investigate the pepper ball fired into the reporter's vehicle, eh? I'm sure that investigation will be identical to the constant promises of investigations by the Israeli army into their daily slaughter of innocent Palestinians when a bomb or missile is "accidentally" dropped on a refugee camp or hospital or on reporters or on aid workers or at feeding stations. Yeah, zippo.
I’m glad you had a good trip and arrived safely to New Orleans. My husband died 5 years ago and I’m still grieving and will probably always be. That’s ok it’s a testament to our love and devotion to each other. My daughter lives locally or else I would have needed to travel as well. Enjoy your time with your son! New Orleans is a beautiful city!
Life is a journey filled with many journeys. Thanks for sharing yours.
Even though I am not directly part of the ACA program, I received word last week that our Medicare supplemental insurance premium is going up 23% next year.
Health care premium increases are an issue for many people:
From United Healthcare:
"2026 premium rate changes have been requested for the AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans for members holding plans issued in the State of New York. Standardized plans A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L and N have proposed rate increases that range from 17.7% to 18.0% depending on the member's plan and the area in which the member lives. Pre-Standardized plans and riders have proposed rate actions that range from 0% to 18.0% depending on the member's plan."
And this from KFF:
"For 2026, across 312 insurers participating in the ACA Marketplaces from the 50 states and the District of Columbia, this analysis shows a median proposed premium increase of 18%, which is about 11 percentage points higher than last year. This is the largest rate change insurers have requested since 2018, the last time that policy uncertainty contributed to sharp premium increases. On average, ACA Marketplace insurers are raising premiums by about 20% in 2026."
Thank you for the facts about UnitedHealthcare. I'm arranging for a meeting with my broker to have her break down all the changes into understandable language. She's already notified me that my PPO with UnitedHealthcare, which has served me well for several years, is being eliminated for 2026. She's going to explain the options available to me. I'm NOT looking forward to it.
Spending time with your son was exactly the right thing for both of you, a member of my veteran support group did the same when his wife passed. A few months after our mother died, a sister given up at birth for adoption (who we never knew existed), called. Family secrets revealed. From 2001 on, I've had an "Irish twin", the spittin' image of our mom.
PLEASE keep warning your readers that the Quantico/800 top brass meeting was the first step (albeit a marginal success) in a process to seduce/manipulate our military into switching loyalty from the Constitution to Trump! Can email you the evidence from (vandeusenn@aol.com). As the patriotic resistance, our duty may be to expose & intercept this despotic process.
Having a special someone helps in this turbulent world. Glad you found your happiness again. Glad you're with Joseph and I'm sure Joseph is glad to have you back in NOLA. Have a wonderful holiday season and keep keeping busy. I know you will!
I loved the long drive story! It seems to me that especially in my senior years, the time away from home base, but certainly during a long drive gives one an opportunity to think more clearly without the constant barrage and interruptions of our "normal daily lives" at home. Now more than ever, where daily we are being bombarded with dangerous news about what the Trump and REPs are trying to do to our freedoms under the Constitution (and the institutions that have held for almost 250 years), we need to pay more attention to protect it. Some of the most recent SCOTUS decisions are literally contradictory to the rulings with NO real explanations in arguments. It is truly stressful and scary BUT, these drives also allow time to take trips down memory lane and realize how long we have lived, how much has changed in our lifetimes, and how quickly decades have flown by. I've been thinking more about how many old friends are either very ill or have recently passed away. Mortality when you are in your 20's/30's is for really old people (like 60+) only now I've passed that mark. Years ago I realized I probably wasn't going make the cover of TIME Magazine, but I have always loved Tipp O'Neill's famous line, "All politics is local" so I've spent time over the years always getting involved locally to make real change and have been able to make a difference. But I'm realizing it's close to the time to pass the baton? What will the world look like in the near future based on the current events as opposed to our lifetime histories where the Constitution was upheld? Maybe you article about consumers/voters is the future of everything? VOTE with your dollars ASAP when something is obviously wrong?
“People of the world don't look at themselves, and so they blame one another.” - Rumi
Keep looking, Ken.
That’s a great essay……proving, once again….its never really about the destination.
The story and the lessons learned are in all the experiences on your journey.
In most elections in the US only about 1/3 - 2/3 of eligible voters vote, give or take depending on whether it is a local election year, congressional, or presidential. Anything over 2/3 is considered very high turnout. So basically 1/3 of eligible people never vote, for various reasons.
But people rarely discuss the people who are NOT eligible to vote. These are largely the people most at risk, the people at the fringes of society. Roughly 20% of the population are children under 18, so they can’t vote. But there are also large numbers of people disenfranchised due to criminal conviction, and there are millions of immigrants - with documentation or without - who cannot vote.
Very roughly speaking, in the highest turnout elections of about 320 million people living in this country about 160 million people will vote. So in the 2024 election the 2 candidates had effectively 24.9% for one and 24.2% for the other.
When people talk about a mandate to govern that is what they are talking about. Less than 1 in 4 people voted for them. That wouldn’t seem fair in a 3rd grade classroom election.
People should be taught that in a representative democracy even the voters are representatives of other people. That they have a duty beyond their own personal preferences to do what is right for the body as a whole.
Seems to be a failure of the education system. A government "by the people" can only work if "the people" have some idea of how government works and how it affects their lives.
Great job crunching the numbers!
Stefanik has spent her entire congressional career voting against providing more healthcare for the people in her district.
I don’t remember the exact number but she has voted against the ACA, or voted to repeal the ACA about 100 times.
The White House and Republicans have denied that their budgets cut Medicare or Medicaid, but the facts show that effectively Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA are being cut - and that has terrible consequences for the people in NY21 who are on average older, poorer, and more in need of those services than the average district. Those cuts will also hurt our rural healthcare system, healthcare workers will lose jobs, and we will be set on a faster downward spiral.
Stefanik doesn’t care.
She doesn't care and she's inhumane. It's terrifying, isn't it?
I resigned my last job in 2016 (at age 62) to pursue a solution to health problems which my former quack primary care physician (and his recommended specialists) failed to diagnose correctly for a couple decades. My financial plan while being unemployed included money set aside to pay healthcare premiums out-of-pocket. By chance, I applied for ACA coverage and was overjoyed to be eligible, especially for all the new tests and treatments in my future. In 2018, at 64, I was approved for Social Security disability payments -- another pleasant surprise -- and was placed on Medicare (I also paid for a Medicare Advantage Plan). The ACA was a godsend. I worked nearly my entire life -- from the 5th grade paper route (135 customers) to decades in professional and blue-collar jobs to working off the books during periods of unemployment, with lots of $$$$ deducted for taxes as well as property/school taxes since buying my first house in 1993. The ACA should be strengthened, not stripped, and anyone who favors its demise should be cut off from ALL government programs that they're undoubtedly collecting while vomiting up lies such as illegal immigrants getting ACA, Social Security, et. al. benefits. That is a mental illness, not a medical sickness.
It is a story I have heard a lot over the years.
I believe she had more than one election where she ran on repealing the Affordable Healthcare Act. And she wants to be governor. Oh my!
Wouldnt that appear to be a good topic for any Democrat running against her? OR if the Dem "powerful" possibly started actually working for EVERY Dem running rather than swing states etc.
You'd think, but voters in this district have voted against their best interests before.
Not only in your district!
What you fail to state is democrats are even more unpopular than Republicans. It makes total sense when your policies are not popular with the people. Your agenda can’t be to hate Trump and offer nothing more to the American taxpayer. The ACA was never all that popular and now that we know it’s just a portal for illegals to siphon federal monies for healthcare it’s even more unpopular. It was all built on lies anyway. I think some people like to forget - “if you like your plan, you can keep your plan. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. You will save $2400 a year.” The subsidies need to go away. As for the Medicaid cuts, entitlements are the largest federal debt we have. You do remember we are $37T in debt????? Removing illegals from Medicaid payouts is only right. The only party looking to cut rural area funding are the democrats. It’s stated in black and white their desire to cut the $50B fund for rural hospitals. Lastly, you do remember who has been in power in NY for me at decades - Cuomo and Jochul? My home state which I often visit from business friendly NC is consistently one of the worst places to live in the country. You drag Stefanik through the mud but you fail to remember just how low Democrat governing has hurt NY. Don’t you think it’s time for a new direction? I do!
I'd love to know where your primary source of information is for the above facts.
https://www.richstatespoorstates.org/states/NY/
No, the part about illegalss being on Obama care - not factually accurate - or that the Affordable Healthcare Act is unpopular. It is actually very popular. And if you approve of congressional representatives lying all the time, well, Stefanik is your girl.
Yes it is true! If you approve of Marxists running your state than Jochul is yours. So glad I left NY long ago. Jochul can’t go a day without telling one.
Ken, let me save you the pain of verifying Homiak's fake data in his diatribes and lies as related to his source (www.richstatespoorstatesblahblahblah) and about "illegals" on government programs. The report he cites is a bunch of right-wing BS from some scam organization called the American Legislative Exchange Council whose dues-paying members are a "Who's Who in Destroying Democracy" -- GOP/Conservative malcontents, lobbyists, large corporations, bogus patriots, obscenely rich autocrats and so on. My internet search found so many criticisms of this horrid organization that it hurt my eyes to read it. I'll paste below what mediabiasfactcheck.com wrote about ALEC and its ludicrous mission. As for Homiak, I'm surprised he coughed up the 50 bucks to participate in this substack; can you refund his money so we don't have to put up with his blatant lies? LOL. I'm all for fact-based opinions, but not blatant lies based on conspiracy theories. It's more proof of how MAGAts have been directed to infiltrate every corner of America -- from every level of government to social circles to dog catcher. Here is the promised info: "These media sources are moderate to strongly biased toward conservative causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports, and omit information that may damage conservative causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Right Bias sources.
"Overall, we rate ALEC as right-biased based on political affiliation and reporting that consistently favors the right. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to not aligning with the scientific consensus on environmental issues."
I've heard about ALEC for some time - not in a good way.
I bet you heard it from CNN or MSDNC. You know the most credible media orgs out there. LOL.
Nope - long long time ago on one of the Wild Horse sites. Dont really watch CNN or MSNBC - dont get cable! See the clips on UTube - along with the many many from Faux Entertainment.
Thank you for helping with the fact check.
And all of your “data” comes from left wing propaganda sites. You know the ones that said the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation and 51 “intelligence” officials stating the same. Oh and Russia collusion lie! Your media outlets have no credibility. The people stopped believing the lies and propaganda of democrat politicians and media. On Nov 5, 2024 they made their decision.
I would hate to be you, and be spending my days swallowing so much disinformation that I could no longer take a few steps back and think critically. Your anger keeps you from seeing things that are right in front of you. But have you ever wondered who is keeping you so angry and why? Have you ever heard the Latin phrase “cui bono?” It means “who benefits.” The current Republican and right wing outrage machine is working overtime to keep you blinded to what is happening as the billionaire class turns our government for the people into one that works only for them.
No one here has ever said that Democrats in general or any Democrats in particular have all the answers or are, like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way. But they are the only ones apparently who still remember and care about the America we all grew up in. Think long and hard about who is really benefiting from the way things are now. Certainly Trump is, financially, to the tune of billions of dollars, through things like his crypto shenanigans, and selling access to him by increasing the club membership at Mar-a-Lago to a million dollars apiece, just to name two things. And if you don’t know what his crypto shenanigans are, because I highly doubt any of your sources would dare to enlighten you to them, please type World Liberty Financial, United Arab Emirates and chip deal into your search engine and do some reading. I bet you were one of those folks who was all up in arms about the “Biden crime family.” Whatever it was you believed about Biden, this will make him seem like a choir boy.
Left wing blather ! But you keep believing your globalist talking points. CNN has you all twisted up. I am enjoying your fits of rage. We had to deal with 4 years of Democrat corruption and the people had enough. You keep living in your echo chamber. You have nothing left but violence.
As I suspected, you will not look it up. It would hurt your sense of self to learn how you’re being had.
This is nonsense.
The ACA is tremendously popular.
While Green Card holders - people eligible for citizenship - are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, other immigrants are NOT eligible.
The mash of statistics and supposed facts you present are smoke.
Nonsense! You just keep believing the left wing propaganda. I will continue to live comfortably in business friendly, low tax NC.
What business are you conducting in N Carolina? Or did you spend most of your working life in NY, the state with the highest per capita GDP, the 3rd largest overall GDP, a state with $15.50 minimum wage vs the $7.25 min wage in N Carolina. 2024 per capita gdp in NY was $117k vs NC at $73k. 2023 median household income in NY was $82,095 vs $70,804 in NC.
Yes the tax burden in NY is higher, per capita NYers pay $5,927 vs $3,744 in NC, a difference of $2,179 less tax in NC but if you subtract that from median household income NYers have about $10,000 more in income after taxes.
NY provides excess tax revenue to the federal government to pay for poorer states for things like SNAP and WIC, or when they have emergency needs like the hurricane that wiped out much of the area around Asheville - money that Trump’s FEMA has been very slow in providing to needy families in NC.
I suspect that you aren’t really working at all, but rather living off of savings and/or a pension earned in NY, perhaps Social Security earned at a higher rate in better paid NY, and you probably get socialized healthcare through Medicare or Medicaid.
So enjoy your low taxes.
If things are so great there, why are so many people leaving the state? I grew up in NY, moved to Boston and then to Minneapolis. Nothing was affordable. I moved to NC in 2014. I will never live in the north again. Once you again you are wrong. I left NY when I was 22 because there was no opportunity. Worked in Boston for 20 years back when the avg cost of a home there was $450k. Realized I could not afford to live there and moved to MPS. Lived there for 8 years and decided it was time to move south as taxes continued to rise. I work for a living pal. You seem to forget who was in office when Helene hit my area. It was dementia Joe. They were the ones who failed the people. But let me tell you how much it activated the voters in WNC to vote for Trump and hand him NC. I live 20 miles away from where Helene hit. I had to have a new roof put on. You have no idea what you’re talking about.
Interesting, you haven’t disputed the facts I provided, but resort to telling me about your feelings.
Yes, Trump misled the public about FEMA aid in the aftermath of Helene and desperate people believed him. But Trump’s FEMA is not delivering the support they need in a timely fashion. It was despicable for him to use a disaster in that way.
People have been leaving NY in large numbers since colonial times. They also move here in large numbers.
Since the 60’s as the reforms of the Civil Rights movement have taken hold, as the use of air-conditioning has become pervasive and as workers in progressive states earned enough money to live in retirement in low wage conservative states many people have moved south. As a consequence Florida has gained population from a lot of retired NY residents but NY still has higher GDP. And as Florida filled up more people moved to places like NC.
Anyway, what business are you in? Who is your employer? Where are your markets? How is the economy treating your business?
You and I are never going to agree on anything so why would I waste my time researching your drivel. I know my situation and they are not feelings, they are facts! The ALEC report is enough for me in addition to my experiences in those states. The only despicable people are from the Democrat party. Just like your boy in NYC. I’m sure you love him. But he certainly has Jochul and Schumer in a squeeze. I work in what is considered the Silicon Valley of the east coast in the heart of FOC country.
After doing a little more research, I realized that while you were an “intergalactic space pirate deck hand” I was working at IP during the summer while I was going to college. I’m sure you know what IP stands for since it was just down the road from you. I’m sure your chicken coop forge utopia is a very special place for you. Bless your heart!
As for what you suspect. You are way off base. I made nothing in NY. Everything I made happened outside of NY. I’ve worked for major corporations my entire career and continue to do so. My healthcare is through my employer which is staying flat to last years premium. Don’t need social security because I’ve saved for retirement but I will take it because I paid into it for 40 years. My pension is through my NC employer. I have never been in a better position in my entire life than living in NC.
So what is the major corporation you work for?
I just love to hear about medicaid and the other social programs called "entitlements". Those "entitlements" are what I and my employers paid into for all my working life! So, yes, I guess I am entitled to Social Security, Medicaid etc. As is anyone else that has paid into FICA for years. In case you are unaware of what the payroll deduction for FICA is:
""FICA, or the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, is a U.S. federal payroll tax that mandates employers to withhold taxes from employee paychecks. It primarily funds Social Security and Medicare programs, providing benefits to retirees and the disabled. FICA was enacted in 1935 and requires both employees and employers to contribute a portion of earnings to these programs.""
ALEC? Not exactly a "bi-partisan" organization! Very biased.
Careful, your whataboutism is showing!
Another liberal echo chamber phrase! You just don’t like to hear what I’m referencing so you try to downplay it. We had four yeas of your attempts at renaming and what did it get you? Four more years of Trump. LOL! Just remember - if there was no Biden, there would’ve been no Trump! Paybacks a bitch ain’t it!
Whataboutism is what it’s called when someone tries to deflect criticism or to send a discussion off course by bringing up unrelated questions and/or accusations. As your above reply so neatly illustrates.
You all can stay in your little liberal echo chamber and bounce your ideology back and forth to one another. A majority of the country doesn’t agree with you. Thank God!!!!
Whataboutism is a tactic a liberal uses when they don’t like or can’t respond to a counter to their argument! Everyone in your little echo chamber is batshit crazy! SO glad I moved out of Saratoga County long ago.
“ SO glad I moved out of Saratoga County long ago.”
So are we.
Well done Ken and thanks for the good comments.
So the police say they'll investigate the pepper ball fired into the reporter's vehicle, eh? I'm sure that investigation will be identical to the constant promises of investigations by the Israeli army into their daily slaughter of innocent Palestinians when a bomb or missile is "accidentally" dropped on a refugee camp or hospital or on reporters or on aid workers or at feeding stations. Yeah, zippo.
I’m glad you had a good trip and arrived safely to New Orleans. My husband died 5 years ago and I’m still grieving and will probably always be. That’s ok it’s a testament to our love and devotion to each other. My daughter lives locally or else I would have needed to travel as well. Enjoy your time with your son! New Orleans is a beautiful city!
Life is a journey filled with many journeys. Thanks for sharing yours.
Even though I am not directly part of the ACA program, I received word last week that our Medicare supplemental insurance premium is going up 23% next year.
Oh my!
My health insurance premium for 2026 is flat with 2025. No increases
United healthcare through my employer
Health care premium increases are an issue for many people:
From United Healthcare:
"2026 premium rate changes have been requested for the AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans for members holding plans issued in the State of New York. Standardized plans A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L and N have proposed rate increases that range from 17.7% to 18.0% depending on the member's plan and the area in which the member lives. Pre-Standardized plans and riders have proposed rate actions that range from 0% to 18.0% depending on the member's plan."
And this from KFF:
"For 2026, across 312 insurers participating in the ACA Marketplaces from the 50 states and the District of Columbia, this analysis shows a median proposed premium increase of 18%, which is about 11 percentage points higher than last year. This is the largest rate change insurers have requested since 2018, the last time that policy uncertainty contributed to sharp premium increases. On average, ACA Marketplace insurers are raising premiums by about 20% in 2026."
Thank you for the facts about UnitedHealthcare. I'm arranging for a meeting with my broker to have her break down all the changes into understandable language. She's already notified me that my PPO with UnitedHealthcare, which has served me well for several years, is being eliminated for 2026. She's going to explain the options available to me. I'm NOT looking forward to it.
Good luck, if luck has anything to do with it!
So is mine, but neither of us is getting our health insurance through the Affordable Health Care Act.
Spending time with your son was exactly the right thing for both of you, a member of my veteran support group did the same when his wife passed. A few months after our mother died, a sister given up at birth for adoption (who we never knew existed), called. Family secrets revealed. From 2001 on, I've had an "Irish twin", the spittin' image of our mom.
PLEASE keep warning your readers that the Quantico/800 top brass meeting was the first step (albeit a marginal success) in a process to seduce/manipulate our military into switching loyalty from the Constitution to Trump! Can email you the evidence from (vandeusenn@aol.com). As the patriotic resistance, our duty may be to expose & intercept this despotic process.
Having a special someone helps in this turbulent world. Glad you found your happiness again. Glad you're with Joseph and I'm sure Joseph is glad to have you back in NOLA. Have a wonderful holiday season and keep keeping busy. I know you will!
I’m glad you are STILL writing, Ken.
Bob Schnebly
You too. Hang in there buddy. I'll be back your way again in the spring.
I loved the long drive story! It seems to me that especially in my senior years, the time away from home base, but certainly during a long drive gives one an opportunity to think more clearly without the constant barrage and interruptions of our "normal daily lives" at home. Now more than ever, where daily we are being bombarded with dangerous news about what the Trump and REPs are trying to do to our freedoms under the Constitution (and the institutions that have held for almost 250 years), we need to pay more attention to protect it. Some of the most recent SCOTUS decisions are literally contradictory to the rulings with NO real explanations in arguments. It is truly stressful and scary BUT, these drives also allow time to take trips down memory lane and realize how long we have lived, how much has changed in our lifetimes, and how quickly decades have flown by. I've been thinking more about how many old friends are either very ill or have recently passed away. Mortality when you are in your 20's/30's is for really old people (like 60+) only now I've passed that mark. Years ago I realized I probably wasn't going make the cover of TIME Magazine, but I have always loved Tipp O'Neill's famous line, "All politics is local" so I've spent time over the years always getting involved locally to make real change and have been able to make a difference. But I'm realizing it's close to the time to pass the baton? What will the world look like in the near future based on the current events as opposed to our lifetime histories where the Constitution was upheld? Maybe you article about consumers/voters is the future of everything? VOTE with your dollars ASAP when something is obviously wrong?