Another bad idea from Richard Friedman

[NoPasaran]

Burnt Orange has a story on one of the latest ideas from the Kinky Friedman braintrust. It seems that the state has a budget surplus at the moment. Now, there are a lot of things that coould be done with that money. Most likely, a lot of it is going to be poured into school finance, which will allow the Governor Goodhair and the Legislature to pretend they’ve fixed that problem for a few months. Kinky has a different idea, though. Like his spiritual adviser George W. Bush, he wants to give it back.

Kinky believes we should give every property owner in the state a one-time check equal to about 15% of their total property tax bill from 2004. For the average homeowner, this will be about $300.

What’s wrong with this childishly simple idea? Consider this: Who pays property taxes? Why, property owners, of course. And to whom do they pay property taxes? School districts, cities, counties, various other entities… but not the state. So, if the state has a surplus, that pile of spare change must have come from those who pay state taxes, which includes both property owners and non-property owners. Kinky’s plan would loot the treasury to benefit property owners while stiffing everybody else. No wonder when Kinky votes, he votes republican.

[MagickMuffin]

1. Good Point No Pasaran

There are no good tax breaks. There was a time when I hated paying taxes. Hell I still do. However I devised a plan a long time ago about how we should pay our taxes.

My solution to the problem is as follows:

Every tax payer gets to distribute their tax dollars into the system according to ones beliefs; such as to determine what programs they wanted to endorse.

I, of course would donate my tax dollars by supporting programs that benefit education, health-care, medicare, environment, homelessness, labor, etc.

You get the picture. Social programs. Programs that promote a socially conscience awareness. Programs that give back to the community by providing a stable environment for ALL People, not just the ruling class as we know it now.

Notice also that I do not, want no part of the military industrial complex. I do not want to support programs that promote death, doom, or destruction.:nuke:


It really is a sad state of affairs when the people have been asleep for so loooong that they vote against their best interest by believing all the manipulations that are fed to them. They are kinda like people living on life-support, they have a feeding tube attach to their brains and all sense of reality has been erased, replaced, and totally missing.
The ruling elite have looted the treasury while they lulled the masses into complacency.:rant:

[MrTriumph]

2. Texas property tax burden is highest in the nation.

"Kinky’s plan would loot the treasury to benefit property owners while stiffing everybody else"

In fairness, property taxes have been killing Texas property owners (and preventing many small & businesses from relocating here. The really big ones blackmail locals into providing abatements).

But before you flame me, yes, Texas sales taxes are outrageous, too.

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. Yes, but..

we have one of the lowest costs of living in the USA (ie real estate, basic goods, etc). With the shittiest school system.

YOU figure it out. I'll gladly pay more taxes if they put it where it matters-- into the futures of our children and their educations.

[johncoby2]

5. Amen!!!!!

It us unfortuante what people will do for $300. Texans sell out real cheap.

[ashling]

3. I am going to blatantly plaigarize your post

well ... at least I am going to forward it to a friend at work , but I will give credit:)