Only in California . . . .Gas station Ban?

[DonTom]

I won't argue with your choice.

But I will debate anything so . . .

. I choose Michigan..

Why would anybody choose Michigan ?

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[Skookum]

California's state income tax is what prevents us from moving there as full-time residents currently. That makes a difference in our retirement timeline and other goals.

Speaking of mean cats. We just had an attack not far from here outside of Seattle. If anyone recalls, Snoqualmie is one of the areas where Twin Peaks was filmed.

Cougar attacks group of mountain bikers, injures woman near Snoqualmie

One of the mountain bikers in the group pinned down a cougar after the attack as a second cougar ran off into the forest, officials say.

www.king5.com

 

[Skookum]

But I will debate anything so . . .

Why would anybody choose Michigan ?

-Don- Auburn, CA

Why would anyone choose Minnesota? I couldn't get away from the place fast enough. But a lot of people love it and never leave it.

 

[DonTom]

Speaking of mean cats.

Not really mean, IMO.

Running away or bicycling away from those cats is what triggers their instinct to chase. Walk and there will be no problem.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[DonTom]

Why would anyone choose Minnesota? I couldn't get away from the place fast enough. But a lot of people love it and never leave it.

I recall asking people in the army about where they are from. People from such places usually say they " enjoy the seasons." Such as snowmobiles in the winter, swimming and boating in the summer, etc.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[Ex-Calif]

I've always had this fantasy that as a Democratic Republic, leaving the Union would be as easy as a super-majority vote by the citizens of the state.

It would make a ton of sense for the Pacific states to simply opt out of the Union.

Last time some states tried to get out of the club, it didn't go so well - LOL...

If one understood the "balance of payments" data one would understand pretty quickly that if the west left and the northeast let the south secede - the south would end up like an economic Venezuela.

And that's not being rude - that's just being factual.

And not surprisingly to me the mid-west breadbasket as an agrarian farming region would probably be A-OK.

 

[ButchW]

And not surprisingly to me the mid-west breadbasket as an agrarian farming region would probably be A-OK.

Until the next "Dust Bowl" , then they would all come to CA again. ....
Butch

 

[Ex-Calif]

Until the next "Dust Bowl" , then they would all come to CA again. ....
Butch

Yeah but it would be really interesting. There is a lot more land management science today vs. the 30's.

Also one might argue that when farm subsidies are cut off the farmers would be n trouble - However if the "United States of Farming" were released from the obligation to "feed" the union, they could sell globally at market prices.

I haven't given it tons of thought but California having a large agrarian sub-economy would probably do well. The Northeast would be paying a ton more for food.

The south might be mixed but there is only so much pecans, peanuts and citrus a population can eat - LOL...

 

[Chef Duane]

I moved from California to Texas only because of a job. I was working in Silicon Valley and lived in SF proper and got paid a bunch of money so was doing great financially. Company offered me more money to move to Dallas and it was an offer I couldn't refuse. Worked out ok for me, been here 30 years. We had contracted to build a house in Fremont and had to get out of that contract.

 

[WILDEBILL308]

As CA remains the state MOST people in the USA choose to live in. Almost 40 million people prefer CA to any other state.

And it certainly is NOT because it is cheap to live here.

-Don- Auburn, CA

More like 38.9 and falling fast. CA has lost 2 congressional seats because of shrinking population.

 

[DonTom]

More like 38.9 and falling fast. CA has lost 2 congressional seats because of shrinking population.

Yeah, I heard. But we're still about ten million more people than Texas. And 16 million more than Florida.

And it certainly has no effect on the house values around here.

Even after I adjust for inflation, this house is worth north of $100,000 more than I paid for it in late 2016. $250,000 more if we do not count the ridiculously high inflation since then.


-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[John From Detroit]

But I will debate anything so . . .

Why would anybody choose Michigan ?

-Don- Auburn, CA

Well it is on of our 50 most beautiful states after all.
Alas I wish not to get into a battle of beauty or other attractions.
Or politics.
I will say this... I got to sing in Church twice this weekend.. Saturday for a special ceremony presided over by the Bishop.. The Choir got a MAJOR Complement from the Bishop's staff.

I have sung in several Church Choirs due to moving about.. This one is the best of the lot.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

Secondary to that would be the real estate prices; I could get almost 10 times the property here for the same price as a similar place in CA.

Case in point: we own a house in San Jose, Ca: 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath, 1000 square feet, on a 5000 square foot lot. It currently is appraised for $890K and if we weren't protected by Prop 13 limitations we'd be paying almost $10K per year in property taxes. We've been looking at places in Tennessee - a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1500 square foot house on 1 acre of land will cost us about $350,000 and the property taxes will set us back about $1500 per year...

 

[Chef Duane]

When we moved from the Bay Area to Plano, TX in 1994 we had contracted for a house in Fremont, CA. in the east bay. House was 1700 square feet, no front yard (your car drove over the sidewalk onto your driveway and garage) and zero lot line (your house, then 10 feet, then the next house). House was about $300k IIRC. Was able to get out of the contract and moved to Texas. We then contracted for a house in Plano, TX. for $179K - 3000 square feet, 3 bath, 4 bedroom, on almost a 1/4 acre lot. We have already qualified for the $300k loan (I'm a Veteran so it was a jumbo VA loan) so the $179k loan was simple. We also built a circle driveway and a pool. So we made out pretty good on the move. You don't want to know how much this house is worth now. In as much as housing goes, I have NO COMPLAINTS about living in Texas.

 

[jackiemac]

Somebody needs to explain that to the country that has the highest percentage of EVs, Norway! More than half the new car sales there are now EVs:

Norway car sales:

View attachment 171278



-Don- Auburn, CA

Here's why

The Norwegian EV incentives:
No purchase/import tax on EVs (1990-2022). From 2023 some purchase tax based on the cars’ weight on all new EVs.
Exemption from 25% VAT on purchase (2001-2022). From 2023, Norway will implement a 25% VAT on the purchase price from 500 000 Norwegian Kroner and over
No annual road tax (1996-2021). Reduced tax from 2021. Full tax from 2022.
No charges on toll roads (1997- 2017).
No charges on ferries (2009- 2017).
Maximum 50% of the total amount on ferry fares for electric vehicles (2018)
Maximum 50% of the total amount on toll roads (2018-2022). From 2023 70%
Free municipal parking (1999- 2017)
Access to bus lanes (2005-). New rules allow local authorities to limit the access to only include EVs that carry one or more passengers (2016-)
25% reduced company car tax (2000-2008). 50% reduced company car tax (2009-2017). Company car tax reduction reduced to 40% (2018-2021) and 20 percent from 2022.
Exemption from 25% VAT on leasing (2015-)
The Norwegian Parliament decided on a national goal that all new cars sold by 2025 should be zero-emission (electric or hydrogen) (2017).
«Charging right» for people living in apartment buildings was established (2017-)
Public procurement: From 2022 cars needs to be ZEV. From 2025 the same applies to city buses

 

[DonTom]

Here's why

I know they had many reasons. They needed incentives to teach their old dogs new tricks.

I wonder if we should do that same stuff here in the USA. We do a little, but not as much as in Norway.

How are EVs doing there in Scottland?

I will check . . . 1 in seven are EVs in Scottland. A lot more than here in the USA (1 in a hundred). But are 43% of new car sales here.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

You don't want to know how much this house is worth now. In as much as housing goes, I have NO COMPLAINTS about living in Texas.

If I were to move, I would choose between AZ, TX and FL.

If AZ, that would probably be Payson. For Florida, probably Marianna or a place like it more south.

In Texas, perhaps Odessa. While kinda large, it's well spread out and easy to get around in.

But I am happy in Reno, NV and Auburn, CA so I probably won't be going anywhere.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

First mistake, quoting anything from MSN, only about 3 dozen people watch that network a day.

Second, please please don't tell us what the mostly Socialist Europe does and why don't we. Old, smallish countries mostly, old old infrastructure, taxes and control, Oh Gee, let's start a new country, we'll call it America. Big, Bold, Wide Open, Arrogant, Freedom and Free....and to think this stupid idea became the greatest nation on the planet.

 

[TheBar]

Here's why

It doesn't make any sense to me to compare US EV sales to EV sales in Europe. Individual countries in Europe are smaller than many of our states, everything is more compacted together so they drive fewer miles and even use a car 25% less often.

But the real reason is, gasoline costs twice as much in Europe. Even gas prices in Canada are more than 1/3 higher which explains why EV is more popular in Canada.

 

[DonTom]

so they drive fewer miles and even use a car 25% less often.

Here in the USA the average is around 30 miles / 48km per day driving. But yeah, Europe averages even less.

-Don- Reno, NV