🚀 go-pugleaf

linley@netcom.com (Bruce James Robert Linley) writes:

>In ye olden post broudy@mizar.usc.edu (David S. Broudy) spake...
>>In article <2vka8k$4r@crl.crl.com>
>>dk@crl.com (David A. Kaye) writes:
>>
>>> It's because of Prop 13.  Counties can no longer count on property tax 

>Oh please. Prop 13 is a godsend. It's meant to protect fixed-income (usually
>retired) people who who would be otherwise taxed out of their house because
>the house they bought in 1967 increased in value from $20,000 to $200,000.
>This lets people plan their retirement and not have to worry about what kind
>of bill the gov't is going to hand them next year.

>People who whine about prop 13 will be singing a different tune when their
>property value goes up substantially (if they hold onto their home that long).
>BTW, with the recent dipping of property values in CA, people who bought their
>homes in the 80s are paying _more_ in prop tax than they should because of
>prop 13, but the liberal press neglects that little factoid and I suspect that
>you could care less about that. Prop 13 bashers are a bunch of snotty jealous
>impatient whiners who can't stand the fact that they are not instantly
>enjoying the benefits of 20-year homeowners. These people _invested_ in their
>future and are now enjoying the benefits that (waaaaaaa!) you want now or
>spitefully want to deprive them of (the f***-you-too mentality).

BBZZZZZZZZTTT....   YOU LOSE.

1.  Sales Taxes are *very* regressive.  This fact is so well established that
I won't bore you with a blizzard of references.  If you're so dense you can't
figure this out for yourself, e-mail me.  (that rant wasn't for Mr. Linley).

2.  I never realized that recgnizing that I pay more in property taxes for my
shoe-box condo than someone I know who lives in an $800,000 dollar house makes
me a "snotty jealous impatient whiner."  Given how heavily subsidized
residential real estate already is (mortgage interest tax deduction,
rolloever of capital gains, Fannie Mae, etc), why are these same
folks entitled an additional tax break at my kid's school's expense?  
Notice, PROP 13 is a benefit ONLY if you are sitting on a capital gain.
If the taxes are so crushing, you could always sell the house,
collect your capital gain, and move to a cheaper place.
Or get a reverse mortgage.
(that rant was for Mr. Linley).

3.  As for the original post and follow-ups that politcians like to raise
taxes but never seem to get around to lowering them - well,
history speaks loudly on that point 8(.  I can't argue with that one.
-- 
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Tyler Holcomb   *   "Remember, one treats others with courtesy and repsect *
tylerh@alumni.  *   not because they are gentlemen or gentlewomen, but     *
  caltech.edu   *   because you are."  - paraphrased from Garth Henrichs   *