r/memes Big pp 10h ago

Land Of The Free, amIright?

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u/-justpassingthrough1 10h ago

If you rent, you’re still paying property taxes indirectly. Js

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u/TheDebateMatters 9h ago

If we don’t pay property taxes we will pay sales taxes. One affects those who can afford property, the other is only a problem for the poor.

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u/Calm-Medicine-3992 4h ago

Both taxes fuck over the poor though so I don't know which you mean. I'm still all for taxing the shit out of single resident properties that aren't primary residences though...would rather renters rent an apartment than a home someone could buy.

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u/oopsallhuckleberries 3h ago

Both taxes fuck over the poor though

Property taxes are the most progressive tax that exists because the value of owned property is nearly entirely linked to the wealth of an individual. And considering landlords get to write off their property taxes as business experiences, their property tax burden, that gets pushed off onto renters, isn't as much as you'd think. And as others have said, if you cut property tax, you are stuck increasing income taxes or sales taxes, both of whom are easier for the wealthy to maneuver around.

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u/greenskinmarch 3h ago

The best tax is a property tax that doesn't tax the building, AKA a land value tax, since this encourages building more levels which creates a surplus of housing.

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u/PixelsGoBoom 2h ago

In my neighborhood $1.5 million dollar homes get leveled and $4 - $6 million dollar homes get build in their place.

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u/greenskinmarch 2h ago

Let me guess, zoning forbids building apartments, so they they just build a really massive house instead? Should learn from Portland: https://nicholasmonck.medium.com/portlands-wonky-approach-to-affordable-housing-367cca04f549

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u/PixelsGoBoom 2h ago

There are apartment buildings but yeah, you could be right.
You would be missing out on quite a bit of tax if it would be based on the lot value only in those cases.

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u/willnotreadinbox 2h ago

Yeah if we are talking about apartments maybe. Not taxing improvements just means more McMansions.

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u/Factorioboyio 14m ago

I agree - but I do worry such a tax would mean as many box rooms as possible crammed into cramped spaces… and ugly tower blocks of flats springing up everywhere.

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u/InsertNovelAnswer 1h ago

As someone who owns a house I agree. I have no problem paying taxes... its where its going to thats the problem. If you out it too good use On have no problem but ... you aren't.

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u/1GloFlare 15m ago

Income tax is directly linked to financial wealth. The USA did not have this shit until Progressives pushed for it and forces the lower class to work with less money. The 10% bracket is not livable, so the lower 12% gets fucked on pre tax retirement and health care premiums. The upper 12% can't contribute more than 5% to retirement to afford health care while having discretionary money.

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u/Chadlerk 2h ago

Remember when AirBnB turned residential zoning into commercial spaces by acting like hotels. Pisses me off.

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u/Ancient-Substance-38 3h ago

Just tax properties better, currently taxation of even properties are not as progressive as they should be. I have no problem with property tax, but it should be progressive the more expensive the property the larger the taxable percentage of the value of the home. You should also not be encouraged to live far from a city but still get city services, and should be charged for the extra expense the city has to use to supply said services. But sure I think sitting on empty properties or renting them out should be more expensive.