patrick.net

Land is taxed, and more so than purchases of consumer goods, etc.

Land is taxed when purchased, sold, and at least annually while "owned," if not bi-annually.

You make no sense.

If you don't understand what I'm saying, that's on you. It's clear.

I am recommending replacing all sales taxes with an increase in land taxes. Whether or not you personally like this has nothing to do with whether or not it makes sense.

Dude, you even fucking realize how much people pay as a % of their incomes on housing property taxes, as it is now?

I'm in Illinois, and annual taxes on a 500k home run about $11,000 per year right now.

Business property taxes are even higher proportionately.

You are delusional.

I don't think Dan has ever owned real estate. So his "recommendation" is up there with how I feel about cigarette taxes. Since I don't smoke, I say tax the hell out of them. My guess is I'd feel differently if I were a smoker. The biggest issue I have with the tax-land suggestion is that the one big asset that many old people have is their home. I don't like policies that essentially force old people out of their homes at a time that they cannot just go get a job. Policies, if you have to have them, should protect primary residences.

Dan8267 says

I am recommending replacing all sales taxes with an increase in land taxes.

Georgism is the idea of replacing all other taxes with just a land value tax.

So your income tax would go to zero. This helps in selling Georgism.

turtledove is deplorable says

I don't think Dan has ever owned real estate.

No, I haven't. However, I have absolutely no problem with raising taxes that aren't in my own personal financial interest. For example, I am all for a carbon tax even though I drive a car with mediocre gas millage.

Also, I have two siblings that own expensive houses and a third that may buy in the near future. And my parents own two houses. Certainly it's not in my family's financial interest for a more fair land tax, but as much as I care about my family more than my own financial interests, I know it's in society's interest to tax scarce public resources rather than productive activity.

That is the only motivation. I can put aside my personal interests because like all good STEM workers I can compartmentalize.

" I can put aside my personal interests because like all good STEM workers I can compartmentalize."

The push for more STEM workers is a huge scam, and motivated by large businesses lobbying to expand H1B visas so that they can obtain cheaper foreign employees while also suppressing prevailing wages of these types of workers in the future.

rando says

Georgism is the idea of replacing all other taxes with just a land value tax.

I propose of more modern form of Georgism in which all public resource usage, not just land, is taxed. The income tax, if at all used, should only be a tax on the wealthiest Americans to pay for anti-poverty programs. That was its original intent and today's income tax is a complete perversion. Still, taxes on public resources could pay for anti-poverty programs.

I also propose taxes on rent seeking and zero-sum games. With these three kinds of taxes and no other kind, we could end institutionalized economic apartheid, stop inter-generational poverty, end homelessness, promote productive activity, and enable most Americans to own their primary home out right without any mortgages or liens. The rich can still live in opulence, but it will cost them in taxes, not just purchase prices that they can recover.

An economic system should reward productivity, not hoarding. The rich should not get richer simply because they are already rich. Anyone should be able to become wealthier by being productive. This philosophy is antithetical to our current economic system.

ThreeBays says

You want more reasons to move businesses that create jobs out of our cities and states?

This problem is easy to fix. When evaluating the land tax, tax land across the entire world. Not only does this remove the incentive of businesses to move out of state, but also out of country. It also removes the race to the bottom that states now are forced to play in.

"When evaluating the land tax, tax land across the entire world."

Are you even for real?

So, this would be administered by a global body that would essentially have landowners and even governments surrender all sovereignty?

You are an absolutely bizarre person, full of bizarre, scary ideas, if you're serious.

AllTruth says

So, this would be administered by a global body that would essentially have landowners and even governments surrender all sovereignty?

No, that's another straw man.

Each government would require full disclosure of all directly or indirectly owned assets by any business doing business in said country. The taxes would then be applied based on the total land usage in area as well as the total value of the land. Revenue from the taxes would be divided proportionally among the tax jurisdiction in that country. For foreign land, the revenue would be collected by the Federal government and dispersed as needed.

You clearly have an emotional reaction to the idea that is preventing you from thinking rationally. This is not skepticism, but rather dogmatism. A skeptic listens and demands evidence and reasoning. A zealot refuses to listen to evidence and reasoning and will never budge from his preconceptions. You are a zealot, not a skeptic. I invite you to change your world view, but like most zealots, you probably won't.

I met a hardcore Georgist who said the proper way to set the land value tax was through bidding. I'm not sure of the details, but I got the idea that when the land is sold, the ownership would go to whomever agrees to pay the highest land value tax.