4 ms·

Why can't other taxes pay for that? There are surely plenty of other tax revenue streams. My parents, who were on a fixed income, had to move from upstate NY in

Why can't other taxes pay for that? There are surely plenty of other tax revenue streams. My parents, who were on a fixed income, had to move from upstate NY in part because of property tax increases. You never truly get to own your house and are instead renting from the government.

rayiner 8y ago
You're not "renting" from the government. You're paying for the ongoing services you use, which are connected to your property (roads, police protection, etc.). As to having other taxes pay for it--that just shifts the tax burden onto other people.
- ahallock 8y ago
  The road to our house was awful and in disrepair. The plowing was decent, I'll give them that. I know your answer: we need yet more taxes. It couldn't be that these taxes enable all sorts of non-essential and wasteful programs, while what's truly essential gets neglected. Do we really need all those cops setting up speed traps and fleecing drivers? Or all the cops looking to catch someone growing a plant on their property? That's the only time the police ever came to our property, to look for suspicious plants. Would people really pay for that or consider that an essential service if they weren't forced?
  - wedn3sday 8y ago
    You like having phone lines right? and power? and not being invaded by canada? The reason you've never needed to have police on your property is in large part because they're doing a good job and keeping crime down. Yes, the government is giant and stupid at allocating resources, but its also fairly stable and allows you to live your life in peace (with the occasional inspection for naughty plants).
supertrope 8y ago
Like income and sales tax? States with no income tax tend to have higher property and sales tax, and vice versa. Or did you mean, why can't other people pay for that?

4 ms·

Why can't other taxes pay for that? There are surely plenty of other tax revenue streams. My parents, who were on a fixed income, had to move from upstate NY in

by ahallock 8y ago

rayiner 8y ago
You're not "renting" from the government. You're paying for the ongoing services you use, which are connected to your property (roads, police protection, etc.). As to having other taxes pay for it--that just shifts the tax burden onto other people.
- ahallock 8y ago
  The road to our house was awful and in disrepair. The plowing was decent, I'll give them that. I know your answer: we need yet more taxes. It couldn't be that these taxes enable all sorts of non-essential and wasteful programs, while what's truly essential gets neglected. Do we really need all those cops setting up speed traps and fleecing drivers? Or all the cops looking to catch someone growing a plant on their property? That's the only time the police ever came to our property, to look for suspicious plants. Would people really pay for that or consider that an essential service if they weren't forced?
  - wedn3sday 8y ago
    You like having phone lines right? and power? and not being invaded by canada? The reason you've never needed to have police on your property is in large part because they're doing a good job and keeping crime down. Yes, the government is giant and stupid at allocating resources, but its also fairly stable and allows you to live your life in peace (with the occasional inspection for naughty plants).
supertrope 8y ago
Like income and sales tax? States with no income tax tend to have higher property and sales tax, and vice versa. Or did you mean, why can't other people pay for that?