Is there a single state in the union able to forge its own way?

[Mac1337]

Are they all too dependent on the federal government for money, that they cannot make independent decisions?

I am not talking about direct defiance of federal law. I am thinking about the constitution and the rights not afforded to the federal government.

I am thinking back to the way Reagan forced all of the states to change the drinking age to 21. Some states did not want to do it, but the states were all so dependent on federal money that they changed their state laws.

Is there a state in the union that can still make decisions on their own? One that can maintain some independence?

Is there one that makes enough money on their own that they can afford to turn down federal money when they disagree with the direction the federal government steers?

Or are all of the states like welfare recipients? Too dependent and because of their dependence they can't choose their own path.

I know, I know...first response will be "look up the term rhetorical question", second response will be "21 is the right decision", and third response will be "thank goodness we have a strong federal government otherwise the terrorists will win".

[Sam3]

Nope.

[kanesa]

How do states make their own money?

[Mac1337]

kanesa wrote:
How do states make their own money?

Really?

[kanesa]

Naysayer wrote:
[quote=kanesa]
How do states make their own money?

Really?
Yeah, really. Besides taxes.

[Black]

Sam3 wrote:
Nope.

That's not argument, that's merely contradiction . . .

[cbelt3]

Puerto Rico could happily make it on their own. Hawaii probably as well. Alaska would be fine as long as they can keep selling dat oil. Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota... probably do just peachy.

[Mac1337]

A good starting point is all those states that say they send more money to Washington than they receive. My question is how some states are prospering without sales or income tax and others are broke with both? They should be nation's role models.

[kanesa]

New Hampshire is an example of a state with no sales or personal income tax. But money has to come from somewhere and New Hampshire has one of the highest property taxes in the nation.

[Mac1337]

kanesa wrote:
New Hampshire is an example of a state with no sales or personal income tax. But money has to come from somewhere and New Hampshire has one of the highest property taxes in the nation.

So you do know how states make their own money.