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rruff is god-awful wrong about many things, but this isn't one of them. Two of the basic reasons why human beings form societies at all are risk-sharing and redistribution of wealth and income. We don't do anywhere near enough of either one of those things in this country today and it shows glaringly in our welfare and happiness data.
mmmkay.... and can you then show me a statistic or evidence that the USA is suffering somehow because we lack the redistribution levels of other nations?
The Pilgrims were initially organized as a Collectivist society. Each person contributing to the common good and in turn each receiving an equal share of the produce.
Few worked hard to produce crops and other goods for the benefit of the Colony. As a result, there was not that much food and prosperity after that first growing season. I've read in another article that because of this they almost starved to death. America’s early settlers quickly learned that the principles of Socialism resulted in economic disaster and extensive personal suffering. These people at Plymouth Colony did not try to perfect Socialism. They quickly eliminated Socialism.
If you give a company a break to move to your area they would be getting revenue from others sources that would have otherwise been zero. In that case it's not redistributing because of the breaks
Which means area A's tax break means that area B does not receive the revenue it would receive in the absence of A's tax break, which certainly is redistributive. Which is a net good thing only if B is not domestic.
If 30% of income tax income for the state come from less than 1% of the population, doesn't that mean that the 1% is subsidizing the standards of living for everybody else? These people are the only reason countries like the UK can even afford things like universal healthcare and welfare. If it weren't for them, people would benefit NOTHING from those things because they would suck (or should I say, suck harder).
Where do you think the top 1% get their money from?
We have not done a good enough job at teaching people the difference between capitalism and socialism. Some people may not like the latter if it hits them up close and personal.
The larger problem may be the herds of utter nincompoops who in true child-like fashion manage to see themselves as some sort of Marlboro Man wild stallion running proud and free across the unfenced golden prairies. The powers of self-delusion are not to be underestimated.
Taxes are going to hit everyone everywhere up close and personal. Taxes are in fact lower here than in almost any other developed country. Taxes provide access to a whole range of valuable goods and services that the private sector is either unwilling or unable to produce efficiently or responsibly. Thinking that taxes are some indicator of oppressive socialism is an example of foolish stallion-level thinking.
No, it is not a tax break for one group. It is a method of charging non-owner-occupied residences a higher tax rate
Across the country, local communities seek to find ways to raise money on people who don't vote, including vacation home owners, tourists, and the like. I've never been in a hotel that didn't have an extra line item for a tax or two - as a visitor, I have no representation & hence I must pay if I stay.
In Park City, UT if the house you own is your primary residence, you pay one property tax rate. If the house is a long-term rental with a minimum 1 year lease, the property owner pays one property tax rate. If, however, the house is a daily or weekly rental, the property tax rate is 3 times higher. This is to encourage full-time residency - people with a commitment to the local community, and to provide a disincentive to prevent the community from turning into just a giant VRBO / airbnb destination full of people with no commitment to the community.
One man's encouragement is another man's penalty.
Why should someone pay a tax penalty for not being able to buy a home?
Isn't that like kicking someone when they are down?
I lived in the same town 30 years - and in the same house more than 10 years - and I bore the 4x property tax because I was unable to buy a home.
mmmkay.... and can you then show me a statistic or evidence that the USA is suffering somehow because we lack the redistribution levels of other nations?
So many stallions to deal with! Had I not just told you how glaringly the problem shows up in our welfare and happiness data? Why don't you gallop over there and check them out? After that, maybe try to realize that most forms of risk are a BAD thing -- something that rational people (and societies) try to minimize or avoid. Next, work on understanding that the markets on which much of society depends are all entirely amoral. They are not benevolent magic boxes ordered by some loving God, but rather oblivious and uncaring agents perfectly capable of reaching and persisting in equilibria that are socially damaging and unacceptable. We are going to need overseers if these markets are to be kept in line. As for suffering, consider that over many years, the US has ranked last or next-to-last among developed countries in the matter of amenable deaths. Amenable deaths are those that could have been prevented simply through the timely application of standard medical care. Is death a good enough example of "suffering" for you?
Which means area A's tax break means that area B does not receive the revenue it would receive in the absence of A's tax break, which certainly is redistributive. Which is a net good thing only if B is not domestic.
Should debt between domestic parties not count either?
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