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0 pointsnemo44x5y ago0 comments

I think California in general has an identity crisis right now - a victim of its own success.

It is probably the most unequal place in America in terms of wealth and income. But yet it is almost in denial about that.

It is a huge polluter but refuses to really take action outside of token policies. Nuclear reactors might be a bit too much risk considering the seismic activity - but thorium reactors could be safely deployed. Regardless, sprawl is everywhere and it’s all cars with almost no viable public transit. If you take California public transit it’s almost never by choice.

It wants to punitively tax the wealthy and even those with some good fortune in a successful startup,(new wealth tax proposal is evidence) but these are the biggest revenue sources and they are leaving, like NYC to escape the taxes. The new proposal would tax you even AFTER you leave - good luck!

They keep looking for tax revenue to prop up their pretty bad public school system but yet have the most regressive property tax law in the nation. NIMBY and “I was here first” mentality is rampant for such an inclusionary place.

The weather is nice.

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scarface745y ago

So why are you opposed to progressive (number wise not politically) income tax but then seem not to be opposed to raising property tax?

Again, I’m as far away from California as geographically possible and still live in the US. I don’t have a dog in this fight.

In other words, why focus o property tax property instead of income tax?

Also, how is property tax not a “wealth tax”?

nemo44xOP5y ago

I think the issue with property tax policy in California is that it is nativist. You essentially lock-in a price and if you don’t move, over time you’ll be paying peanuts compared to people buying a home for the first time. This starved communities of revenues so they keep jacking income tax on workers while people sit in or rent their homes that have appreciated to millions of dollars and pay almost nothing to the community. You can also pass the property down to kids who will continue to pay very little tax on it and be able to rent it for profit.

I have my own issues with property tax in that it penalizes improving a property (should be primarily based only on land value, not what is built on it for redudebtial) However it’s a tax that should be better at ensuring funds stay more local than a state tax. This means the schools and public resources can be funded by the community as they see fit. It’s a local tax abd I think local policies and power are best left to localities. It’s easier and more practical for citizens to participate in local government and it effects us most. Much better than sending all the tax revenue to a centralized government that shreds it apart like hyenas.

States like Texas get it right imo. No income tax and higher property taxes which the localities set mainly. With a portion going to the state to run and to distribute to communities that need a bit of help.

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