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Any time I hear of a person losing their home due to not paying their serf fees it makes my blood BOIL!
The subject of tax reform was extensively debated by the Founders of our country. I do not know if other participants in these Hearings have take the time to research the accounts of these historical debates when formulating the suggestions they will present to this Committee, but, having researched the Founders' original tax reform package, I am inclined to believe its fundamental principals are as valid today as when they were put into practice over two hundred years ago.
Our nation's first revenue raising Act was "...in a certain sense a second Declaration of Independence; and by a coincidence which could not have been more striking or more significant, it was approved by President Washington on the fourth day of July, 1789." [See, Twenty Years of Congress, James G. Blaine, 1884, Vol. 1, page 185]
James Madison, in discussing this Act before Congress identified a fundamental principal concerning the power delegated to Congress to lay and collect taxes:
"...a national revenue must be obtained; but the system must be
such a one, that, while it secures the object of revenue it shall not be
oppressive to our constituents."
The Act went on to imposed taxes, not on Congress' constituents, but on specific "goods, wares, and merchandise, imported into the United States", and not one dime was raised under the Act by internal taxation! Internal taxes were frowned upon by the Founders, especially when a national revenue could be had by requiring foreigners to pay for the privilege of doing business on American soil!
Originally posted by LewsTherinThelamon
Yeah, I don't think the majority realize that you can't tax someone's property--those kinds of policies fall under feudalism, which is what we fought the revolutionary war over.
People love making excuses for the government that bends them over.
Originally posted by greencmp
reply to post by bozzchem
Once again we see the malevolence of government.
Is there anything more malevolent than government? They kiss you and promise you everything you can imagine all the while building your cage and getting your shackles ready.
At least common criminals are "honest" in their intent for criminal behavior.
For decades, the District placed liens on properties when homeowners failed to pay their bills, then sold those liens at public auctions to mom-and-pop investors who drew a profit by charging owners interest on top of the tax debt until the money was repaid.
But under the watch of local leaders, the program has morphed into a predatory system of debt collection for well-financed, out-of-town companies that turned $500 delinquencies into $5,000 debts — then foreclosed on homes when families couldn’t pay, a Washington Post investigation found.
samkent
So you don't feel that your houses and land should be taxed?
Then I assume you would rather pay more taxes out of your childrens McDonalds paychecks?
And some retired person who lives in a McMansion on 1000 acres but only has Social Security pays nothing towards the roads, schools, hospitals, etc?
If you find a totally fair way to charge everyone for government services, run for office. I'll vote for you.