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I've always felt that people aren't so concerned about the level of taxation (absolute $ amount) as they are about the things (services, etc) that it goes to support.  One of the things about property taxes is that we often have a say on that taxation -- a specific amount for a specific service (public schools, local libraries, fire protection, sewer line extension, etc).  Even the most ardent anti-tax advocate can point to things that we need to fund our government to do for us.  And, even the most ardent pro-government advocate can point to things that the government should stop or scale back.  Wouldn't everyone feel better if they had a say in where their own tax dollars go?  Someone that has school-age kids could support schools while someone that loves the outdoors could support parks.  Someone that operates a trucking business can support roads while hunters can support wildlife.  Done on a wide scale -- for state income tax for example -- the totals could roll up to the Legislature for them to allocate within the broad funding catagories (education, public safety, transportation, environment, etc).  It would be a form of true taxpayer representation and most people would feel good about what their own taxes go to support.  What's wrong with that model?

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
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