We're Far From Alone....


Property taxes...go ahead...say it out loud. Now what's the FIRST thing that enters your mind when you say it? If you're like MOST homeowners, you're thinking one word...TOO HIGH!
OK...two words then.

Seems there's NOWHERE to go any longer where you can catch a break. And how many of us can do the "Jeremiah Johnson" gig anyway?

But here in Indiana, we're far from what other cities are experiencing, although these cities are using the SAME tactics to "pad their coffers".

Here's a link to the 2005 year taxes (by state):
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/taxesbystate2005/index.html

In Philly, PA (my hometown), property taxes are rising at an alarming rate with residents in the NE part of town paying TWICE that of folks living in South Philly!. Much the same is true in Florida, NYC, Michigan, and Washington D.C. In fact, if you live in either New Jersey OR New York , you're probably paying some of the HIGHEST property taxes in the whole nation! Jersey's property taxes have risen FIFTY-TWO PERCENT just in the past DECADE.
So we here in Indiana shouldn't be bitching about it, right?
WRONG!
We're headed down the SAME path in Indiana...we're just walking a tad slower!

Too many cities are the culprits in this ever-growing financial burden on the populace. In some cases, it trickles down from the state, but in most cases, it's the city or county that is to blame. And it's this marvelous "crutch" that these local governments have been depending upon for way too long. I say stop your damn limping around, and get that "broken leg" mended once and for all...and stop reaching into MY pockets to do it. As philanthropic as I like to be, I just can't do it all by myself (or so it seems).

We have to decide how much fuel we can afford to put in our vehicles, and whether we can afford to even cut the lawn (unless you have an electric mower like I do). Then there's growing costs for food at the markets (it takes OIL to GET that stuff TO market), other consumables we usually take for granted such as toothpaste, deodorants, shaving supplies, talcum, shampoo...all of these are included in the mix. If we have kids, we have THEIR costs to consider (because we know kids ain't free...not by a longshot...LOL). Then...we get "that" tax bill...for OUR property. (the other shoe just dropped, right?)

Add to that the fact that the money we EARN is taxed not once, not twice, but thrice! You get taxes taken out before you get your paycheck (that's why they call it GROSS earnings...LOL).
Tax number one.

Your "net" earnings go for whatever you might need this week (as mentioned above), and again, there is something called SALES TAX to deal with.
Tax number two.

"But I can just SAVE my money in the bank, right, Bob?" Guess again, my friend. "IF" you decide to bankroll your savings into more folding money by transferring your cash from the "hip national bank" to a more secure facility with a honking huge vault and a big name, you get TAXED on the interest at year's end.
Tax number three.

Another "win-win"? I hardly think so.

Now I don't know WHAT idiot told all these politicians that I:

a) Have my OWN printing press for making money.
(highly illegal I might add)

b) Have a tree I can pluck $100 bills off of every day
(now THAT is genetic engineering!)

c) Crap out $50 "Grants" like there's no tomorrow
(get me some of what HE'S eating!)

But I can assure you, that NONE of the above three statements are true about me (and I'd wager that applies to the rest of you as well). So what is it with these "leaders" that makes them think we're a never-ending source of revenue for THEIR financial wish-lists? Well, we gave them all this money SO FAR...what's another rate hike?

We've got way too many people living (at or near) hand-to-mouth status already with more on the way (does the phrase "baby-boomers" ring any bells?). Many of us "thought" we'd be able to sit back and retire on our pensions. PENSION? (he said)...what the hell IS a pension? Companies folded, left this country and took OUR money with them. Too many of us are left hanging, financially speaking, and hanging on by the skin of our teeth. And then some local government has the unmitigated gall to ask for more blood from MY stones? I think not.

I've got CAR care to worry about (parts DO wear out). I've got HEALTH care to worry about (sorry, can't afford to get the flu THIS year...can I get a raincheck?). If I've got kids, I've got THEIR education to worry about (because we're relying on THEM to supplement our retirements...I'm kidding...or AM I?). Oh, and that house the government "thinks" is worth ALL that money....well, I've got to CARE FOR THAT as well, people (I can fix a lot of stuff, but sometimes even the best need a professional). And that's only if I don't become a statistic to CRIME (and it's minions who take the lazy way out by relieving others of what THEY work for) in the meantime.
We baby-boomers are going to wind up relying on fixed incomes soon enough...that means any check from the government will NOT be keeping up with their (own) tax increases....will it? And those already on fixed incomes are feeling quite the pinch every day as it is.

We could always increase the sales tax (or sin taxes)...or we could increase the income tax (how about a city WAGE tax just like Philly has?), or we could even start getting a little more isolationist in our demeanor and make more items HERE, rather than abroad (ever see the cost of the TRADE DEFICIT lately????), so we do have some options, however few they might be.

But taxing "our" property (that we never even get to REALLY own) so we can't afford anything else is NOT the road we should be travelling...not in the condition the road is currently in.

And especially NOT with the current price of gas.