Revolution In Massachusetts

[SweetDee 0]

Hawaii at one point offered a universal health care program for children. It lasted 7 months until it was taken away.http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,440561,00.htmlOf course, aside from that, Hawaii has among the best health care in the nation. Why? Because, since the 70's, they have had a law that requires all business to give their employees health care (if they meet certain requirements). As a result, more than 95% of all Hawiians have health care, and it's one of the healthiest states in the county, and premiums are among the lowest.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/health/p...y/17hawaii.htmlSo, thank you for bringing up Hawaii.

I'm to lazy to create a Dog the Bounty Hunter account but I am sure he would have something to say.

[nutzbuster 7]

goddammitt~~~ok I ate crow on that one. But Hawaii still sucks.They have sharks

[hblask 1]

So I checked their taxes Local/State Tax - 5th Highest in USBusiness Tax - 24th (so about the middle)Corporate Income tax - 33rd HighestSales Tax - below national median but collections high (due to all the tourists I'm sure)No Property Tax (really?)Not that I don't believe you Henry, but it doesn't seem like their taxes are that highTax Foundation

The question is, do they count "businesses must buy health insurance for employees" as a tax? If not, then it certainly would look like low taxes when the reality is otherwise. I don't know the answer, but I suspect it counts as a regulation, not a tax.

[85suited 0]

Hawaii increased taxes Jan 1 2009The broadest tax increase and the one receiving the most attention is an income tax increase on higher-income earners. The legislation adds three income tax brackets on top of the current nine, at rates of 9% on income over $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers), 10% on income over $175,000 ($350,000 for joint filers), and 11% on income over $200,000 ($400,000 for joint filers). By adding the 11% bracket, Hawaii will move from eighth to first in the ranking of top state income tax rates, passing Maine, New Jersey, Iowa, Oregon, Vermont, Rhode Island, and California. (See Table 1.)http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/24693.html