Quote from: Hawker on March 29, 2014, 08:53:48 AM

Quote from: Khadaji on March 28, 2014, 08:57:31 PM

Quote from: Hawker on March 28, 2014, 08:30:08 PM

Quote from: Khadaji on March 28, 2014, 07:15:26 PM

Quote from: Hawker on March 28, 2014, 07:06:19 PM

Google "straw man" - I never proposed a progressive taxation system so need not defend one.

If you have no interest in taxing a millionaire at a higher rate than you do his janitor, then we agree.

I would not tax either of them a penny on their wealth or income. The one with more property will pay more tax and if it happens to be the millionaire, he will reduce the wage he pays his janitor. Call it trickle down taxation.

The important thing is that both are encouraged to employ their assets and there is no penalty for success.

If you are only taxing those who own property, then you're intentionally pushing people into renting rather than ownership.

And since the government owns 28% of the land in the U.S. - that's 28% that will never be taxed.

Property tax on residential lettings is paid by the tenants through their rent. If owning a property makes sense, the level of property tax is irrelevant as you pay it whether you own or rent.

Nope. Untrue.

You're now stating that people will be taxed even if they DON'T own property.

Quote from: Hawker on March 29, 2014, 08:53:48 AM

I see no reason for the state to own 28% of the land. If the government needs money, it can sell its land. To my mind this is a major benefit of a property/resource tax - thanks for bringing it up.

Quote from: Hawker on March 29, 2014, 08:53:48 AM

Since tax is raised to meet a budget, no matter what tax you choose, the same amount of money gets raised. Sales tax is more expensive to administer than a resource/property tax

Only because it would affect far less people.

Quote from: Hawker on March 29, 2014, 08:53:48 AM

and it requires a ton of regulation and bureaucrats. You can see why the property/resource tax option is most popular here :-)

People are always in favor of someone else paying taxes.

But if you want a truly fair system, and one that takes the lowest amount of money from any person, it has to be a tax on EVERYONE.

The same argument was made not long ago by President Obama with regards to universal health insurance... EVERYONE has to be on it for it to make sense.