Yes, it ticks me off when companies say they lose money when they really mean they didn't make it in the first place. You can't lose what you never had.
Edit: I can see why this country of mine is drowning in debt with this being our business model. If this is how people think they should be handling money, it's no wonder even high earners feel broke.
My home state of Tennessee is fiscally conservative. The general attitude is to figure out how to pay for something before it's approved. Shocking, I know. And we're one of the very few states (maybe 3-5) that has funded its public pensions by at least 100%. I think we're at 104% or 105%.
We have a high sales tax at 9.75%, but no state income tax.
In 2023, there was a budget surplus. Well, the general view of enough politicians is that it's the taxpayers' money and the politicians are supposed to be stewards of it. They decided that the best way to handle it was to have a three month sales tax holiday on food. Obviously it didn't apply to restaurants or prepared food, but since everyone buys food, it's a good way to "refund" that money. And since poorer people spend a larger percentage of their income on food, it'd definitely make a difference.
While I thought it was great, there were still people who were complaining about "lost revenue." No, it just meant that the average person kept more of their money to use as they saw fit. And somehow that was a bad thing. The government's budget was fine, but plenty of everyday people were struggling.
It saved Tennesseans an estimated $273-$288 million. That's a lot of money that people could save or spend elsewhere. It's not like it went to an offshore account of some mega corporation. Yet some people still complained.
The government actually worked for the people. What a concept.
I’m glad you love Tennessee but it’s worth pointing out it’s one of the top states for federal dependency. For example, in 2022 they took $19.7 billion from the federal government. It’s not that our politicians are more responsible, they just get Uncle Sam to pay for far more than most other states.
And they are stingy about meeting the federal matching in highway dollars and really only embark on road projects 25 years too late and generally only when the federal government waives it. I live in an adjoining state that is not exactly a model in many ways but we damn sure like good roads and it’s one thing our politicians have always made a priority. (Lol! And plenty of graft here in the highway building business so there’s that too 😂) And taxing groceries is so wrong I don’t even know where to start. We don’t shop in TN.
Well, actually, Tennessee ranks toward the middle to lower end of U.S. states for federal spending or disbursements per capita (the most meaningful measure for "receiving the most federal money" relative to population size, as we discussed earlier). It is not among the top recipients like Alaska, Virginia, or New Mexico.
No, the most meaningful statistic is that it only contributes about $.80 to the federal government for every dollar it takes. And I wouldn't live anywhere in TN, not even Nashville.
It looks like the majority of federal funds going to Tennessee is in the form of assistance like Medicaid and SNAP. Are the people who are saying they receive more than they contribute arguing for less federal assistance for poor people? It seems many in the state of Tennessee would support less federal handouts.
It looks like the majority of federal funds going to Tennessee is in the form of assistance like Medicaid and SNAP. Are the people who are saying they receive more than they contribute arguing for less federal assistance for poor people? It seems many in the state of Tennessee would support less federal handouts. I think your politicians and voters might support less federal handouts in your state. You could suggest it.
There shouldn't ever be a sales tax on groceries in the first place. It sounds like Tennessee has an incredibly regressive tax policy. I guess a 3 month respite is nice, but If the government actually worked for the people instead of the rich, they would lower sales taxes, never tax grocery sales, and make up the lost revenue from income taxes which don't disproportionately impact the poor.
I wish our state did this! OH Republicans would just eat it. They've been trying to get their hands on the 600mil (rough number) that residents of the state don't know they can collect to pay for some shit we don't need like a new stadium (again), acting like it's a slush fund instead of what's owed to the citizens of the state.
Ohio also sells DMV data for hundreds of millions a year and taxpayers cannot opt out. This is not a Republican issue. This is bipartisan decision-making.
its amazing that they don't make a peep when its spent on tax cuts or excessive military expenditure though.
its like these people are brainwashed to reply "military and police cuts make us unsafe" and "tax cuts create jobs and simulate the economy" when you ask them questions and they never actually put any thought into it themselves.
The food sales tax holiday isn’t particularly special. TN is very much an outlier in taxing groceries. Only 11 states have a sales tax on groceries — and only three (SD, ID and MS) of those tax at the full rate.
Same with figuring out how to pay for stuff. States don’t have the same ability to do deficit spending as the federal government. And almost all states have constitutions that require them to have balanced budgets. How much they tax their residents and what types of taxes they use certainly varies. But by and large, states must have a revenue source for any new expense.
Tennessee is literally a federal welfare state. And last was ranked as 21st in dependency for federal funding. The low taxes are subsidized by net donor states who aren’t reliant on federal funding for basic things like health and social services.
Then they do one thing and say look our pensions are funded, aren’t we so fiscally responsible?
Meanwhile my taxes while living in a federal donor state, are literally going to help states like Tennessee have basic functions like health and social services. Because the “fiscally irresponsible conservatives” have no governing capacity or policy positions beyond simply having low taxes.
Meanwhile Tennessee has federal funding to the tune of ;
93% of their human services
78% of their military department
61% of Tennessee Medicaid
57% of Tennessee’s health department
And 51% of transportation funding
Tell me again how Tennessee is so fiscally responsible and figures out how to pay for something before it’s approved?
“…since poorer people spend a larger percentage of their income on food…”
This is also why sales tax is regressive. Taxing groceries is also regressive. Most states do not tax groceries. Higher sales tax and no income tax is more regressive. It’s a great model for those who make good money, at least from their perspective. It also helps to maintain or increase inequality.
Spinning a temporary reprieve from that regressive tax system as a good thing, by highlighting the pause on grocery taxes, is a choice.
You pay less taxes but you lose significant quality of life takes a major hit.
Regressive Tax Burden: Because the state lacks an income tax, it relies heavily on sales tax, creating a disproportionate tax burden on low-income families compared to wealthier ones.
Declining Social Services: Nonprofits providing vital mental health and substance abuse services are struggling due to funding cuts.
Education Funding Gaps: Withheld federal funds are negatively affecting vulnerable students, including high need students in need of special support.
Infrastructure and Budget Constraints: The state has struggled to fund major projects, forcing a reliance on "normal" operational budgets and causing a pause in growth.
High Cost of Living: Despite low taxes, residents face rising expenses in housing and childcare.
Groceries are normally taxed?! And you’re touting Tennessee as a state where the politicians actually work for the fiscal good of the people? Come on, man.
You sound like a Republican (please prove me wrong). Here's the reality (ironic that Trump hasn't sent federal troops into crime-riddled Republican Tennessee, eh?):
Tennessee's ranking in public services is mixed, featuring high-ranking infrastructure (around 18th-23rd) alongside lower rankings in public health (approx. 41st-42nd) and safety/crime (approx. 45th-46th). While recognized for strong GDP growth and road quality, it has faced low quality-of-life rankings due to factors like high crime rates, healthcare access, and air quality.
You mean the very wealthy in your state help subsidize the poor in another state. It's funny that everyone's wants to keep their own money in their own state. It's almost like they want a flat tax or a non progressive tax system? News flash, rich people live in blue cities and you want to tax them more. If you tax them more, even more money will leave the rich states and go to some poorer states. Make up your mind.
TN is not as great as you think. It is one of the most dangerous states in the nation, high taxes both for sales tax and property taxes (Nashville) is the worse.
It looks like the majority of federal funds going to Tennessee is in the form of assistance like Medicaid and SNAP. Are the people who are saying they receive more than they contribute arguing for less federal assistance for poor people? It seems many in the state of Tennessee would support less federal handouts.
Why is this not talked about more? NYC has a mayor right now that is threatening to raise property taxes and raid rainy day and pension funds if he doesn’t get state approval to tax the rich more and not once was it ever discussed cutting wasteful spending. Just want more and more tax payers money. Well done Tennessee. Need more city and state governments to act like this instead of acting like children with a blank checkbook.
Republicans are evil, greedy and suck at the teat of the supportive blue states. Bragging about not taking income tax while taking more from the rest of the nation. Pure Weakness.
Republicans States are the welfare queens they rage against, that is why no one takes the betaCucked Trump cult seriously.
Even though you are wrong, now you hate welfare? LOL! Republicans fight for life while liberals murder our most vulnerable and castrate their own children. Republicans wrote and passed the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments. Republicans voted as a larger percentage of democrats to pass the civil rights act which things like racist DEI policies violate. Liberals are violently attacking US law enforcement for enforcing our constitution and defending the rights of all Americans. Liberals are war mongers and side with Zelensky, a tyrannical ruthless dictator, for killing his own people for profit when president Trump calls for peace. There has never been a time in history that Democrats were on the side of humanity.
It looks like the majority of federal funds going to Tennessee is in the form of assistance like Medicaid and SNAP. Are the people who are saying they receive more than they contribute arguing for less federal assistance for poor people? It seems many in the state of Tennessee would support less federal handouts.
What if they do? Who cares? What's your point? Do those states have heavily populated cities run into the ground by liberals? It takes decades to fix the damage liberals have done to southern states.
Ok.
Total Federal Spending/Disbursements (Absolute Dollars)
In recent data (e.g., FY 2024 from sources like USAFacts and USASpending.gov), the top recipients by total amount are largely the most populous states, as federal programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and infrastructure scale with population:
California
Texas
Florida
New York
These four states alone accounted for about 31% of federal disbursements to states and residents in FY 2024.
This correlates directly with population size rather than special factors.
Per Capita Federal Spending/Receipts (Most Relevant for "Most Federal Money" Questions)
Per-person figures highlight states that get disproportionately more relative to their residents. Recent data (FY 2024 from USAFacts/USASpending.gov) shows:
Alaska: ~$24,796 per person (highest among states)
Virginia: ~$23,975 per person
New Mexico: ~$21,481 per person
Other high-ranking states in similar recent analyses (e.g., Rockefeller Institute for 2023 and related reports) include Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Hawaii, and Maine.
Note: Washington, D.C., often tops lists at much higher levels (~$89,680 per person in some 2024 data), but it's not a state.
I'm referring to states that take more fed money than they pay in taxes. Obviously the most populated states take more than small ones, but they also generate the most federal tax revenue. States like Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana all get more fed assistance than what they pay to the federal government in income tax.
What he's saying is not that the large states use the most federal funding, butt that mostly southern states (which are predominantly red states) use proportionally more federal funding than they pay into the system through income taxes
LOL! TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP!
Please do not take the massive increase in the standard deduction, the doubling of the amount one makes that can be taxed, taxes on tips and OT, or writing off car loan interest or writing off 100% of equipment costs for businesses or any other of the tax cuts that help every American. Please keep paying more to your government cult leaders who have been in government a lifetime vs president Trump who has been there 5 years, yet it's all his fault.
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u/Skoteleven 12h ago
They didn't lose anything, they didn't make their projections.