"No taxation without fair representation!"
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Editor's Note: As the 2009 tax year comes to a close, and a new one begins, it is always good to remind ourselves and our elected officials at all levels (candidates included) that the responsibility of managing the public purse is a big one. By itself, taxation is not an egregious taking of the people's money. It is only when the taking, the waste and the cronyism becomes excessive that we must call the system, and our public officials, to account. One needs to look no further than our county courthouse and state Capitol to find plenty of waste and cronyism. Politicians who promise, "I will reduce your taxes!" are often the same politicians who play loosest with our money or plunge us head long into development schemes that result in . . . higher taxes. Let us resolve that we will watch with sharp eyes as the 2010 election season rolls into view.By Peter Stern
Guest Commentary
How soon we forget . . .
It was only a few hundred years ago that American colonialists were pressured into breaking away from their mother country due to harsh tax laws. It wasn't an easy decision for the citizens to consider forming into a young nation without retaining ties to England.
Taxation is not a new idea. Tax structures have been prevalent since ancient times. Taxes represent a transfer of wealth from citizens of a society to the ruling class of that nation. Taxation was noted in the Bible, in which tax collectors were hated with passion. Almost anything may be taxed and there are many methods to apply taxation.
History first documents tax records applied back in ancient Egypt, where taxpayers were expected to provide a significant portion of the agricultural produce they cultivated from lands to the ruling class.
The Romans created the first known toll tax for using roadways. Traveling on Roman-built roads was a privilege of those who could afford to pay the designated toll tax. Apparently, some things never change.
In our society today, no one – NO ONE – can explain honestly and intelligently why in a depression/recession of this magnitude, with ongoing job losses, long-term unemployment and ever-increasing home foreclosures, along with a treacherously crumbling housing/real estate market, that appraisal values continue to escalate dramatically.
In fact, appraisal districts seem to feel entitled to raise annual appraisals without real justification.
Not only is the property tax system illegal as is, it is an infantilizing, inadequate and financially oppressive system – much as the one forced upon American colonialists by King George of England.
Here in Texas, for many years Governor Rick Perry and members of the legislature have diverted various and significant fiscal state responsibilities onto local county and city governments, who then are motivated to increase property taxes on their residents. Governments of other U.S. states have done the same. It is clear that "History repeats itself."
Those in power today seem to have forgotten that the United States of America emerged from England's oppressive taxing structure via a revolution. Other nations, e.g., France, have done the same. Unfair taxation and an overburdened population were the primary reasons that the colonies rebelled and broke-away from British rule. Apparently, some things never change and those in power seem to forget the lessons history tries to teach us.
The current property tax systems unfairly overburdens U.S. citizens. It is only a matter of time before "the backs" of taxpayers are fiscally broken. Our rulers are blind to that fact. Will it take another revolution to highlight the need for expedient resolution?
Peter Stern of Driftwood, Tx, is a former director of information services, university professor and public school administrator. Mr. Stern is a Disabled Vietnam Veteran and holds three post-graduate degrees.
11 comments:
Damn Peter, I agree, so why don't we get the appraisal district to lower our appraisals, and then tell the Commissioners Court to not raise our taxes, cut the programs that are not essential; and then tell the feds to stop fooling around with the health care programs that we know will end up financially ruining the nation. You see, Pete, the problem that I think you and others like you may have is that you think that the solution is always gutting the local taxing programs, which I agree is a good place to start; though, you are very seldom in favor of denutting the feds and their overreaching, and unconstitutional powers, which are the very reasons we fought against the Brits. So, when you and the O'Dell factor write for this here blog, it would be nice to see you address not just the local cause but also the federal symptom.
"Damn Peter" Anonymous is right about the local analysis but the problem at the national level is not the dyslexic anti-government rhetoric that he/she so mindlesslessly spouts. The free markets right wingers always seem to ignore the fact that Wall Street controls the federal government, and people like Damn Peter only makes the problem worse by foolishly creating a sideshow with anti-government blather. Start thinking or be quiet.
Well guess what. Not only do the local governments increase taxes ... they also have made it a public policy to create subdivisions without providing services commensurate with those taxes. The people living in those places have to pay the local government taxes for no services while being compelled to pay "assessments" to live in a neighborhood where people have none of the constitutional protections that apply to other residents of the county.
On the one hand you are willing to start a revolution because the ruling class has ignored the Constitution with impunity. The ruling class has solved the pesky constitutional issues by burdening all new subdivisions with HOA corporations under which constitutional protections aren't applicable.
Will you be willing to participate in a revolution against the tyranny of these entities or do you believe that no harm has been done because people "agreed" to live in areas that the local government has burdened with HOA corporations?
The "denutting" needs to be performed at several levels to restore the liberties and protections afforded by the Constitution. When and where do you wish to start?
I really get a kick out of Texas advertising that they don’t have an Income Tax. With the second highest property tax in the country, who needs an Income tax? Don’t forget the greatest travesty of all, MUD. Now after over 50 years of work and paying all kinds of taxes, I am now retired and have no income. If we had an Income Tax and Sales Tax instead of these exorbitant property Taxes, HOA and MUD fees, I’d be sitting pretty now, living off my savings, having paid my dues. Instead, since I have lived too long I may be taxed out of my home soon … Thanks to the Great State of Texas and their politicians. DAMN FOOLS!
With any luck at all, I will probably die first due to the Prez and Congress mucking up medical care.
heck Pete, look again - your values have gone down each year from 2006-2009 and check your deductions - public records are hell sometimes- signed by someone who hasn't experienced a decreased valuation or your deductions... what am I missing here? It almost sounds like you're paying full values and taxes... guess not.
One or two of you responders sometimes really present idiotic remarks on this blog.
If you have stupid remarks in the future, please lay down first, spare us and wait for them to pass.
If you keep on complaining about what people write on this blog, why don't YOU write something and let us all know your royal and only correct opinions.
To Anon #1
Stern actually does refer to the national level in this commentary.
"Those in power today seem to have forgotten that the United States of America emerged from England's oppressive taxing structure via a revolution. Other nations, e.g., France, have done the same. Unfair taxation and an overburdened population were the primary reasons that the colonies rebelled and broke-away from British rule. Apparently, some things never change and those in power seem to forget the lessons history tries to teach us.
The current property tax systems unfairly overburdens U.S. citizens. It is only a matter of time before "the backs" of taxpayers are fiscally broken. Our rulers are blind to that fact. Will it take another revolution to highlight the need for expedient resolution?"
What the hell are you talking about, Anonymous? Did you even read what you wrote? Or did you merely throw-up your mindless thoughts all over this blog?
What the heck are you talking about?
"Anonymous Anonymous said...
heck Pete, look again - your values have gone down each year from 2006-2009 and check your deductions - public records are hell sometimes- signed by someone who hasn't experienced a decreased valuation or your deductions... what am I missing here? It almost sounds like you're paying full values and taxes... guess not."
Now, boys, put your Johnsons back in you pockets and keep paying your taxes so you can get back to making a living using the roads, the schools, the airports, and homeland security, and to get those benefits from veterans services, social security, the unemployment office, medicare, medicaid, and disability & worker's compensation. Yes, you are all so poorly treated by the big bad government.
Wow, what a bunch of poor victims. Maybe that Coffee Roaster guy could add: All those who hate taxes cannot use roads, their kids have to be home schooled, they can't fly to visit family or vacation, they have to fight al quada by themselves, and they are totally on their own after they retire. No benefits, no nothing. Just their own maladjusted, anti-social egos. Living with these guys would be the true version of Sartre's NO EXIT.
"No Exit" must have been written by a TxDOT pro-toll manager.
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