patrick.net

"The ultimate tax hostage is the property owner. The business owner can pull up stakes and leave, the wage earner can transfer or get another job elsewhere, and the consumer can restrict his/her consumption to lower the burden of sales taxes, but the property owner is the perfect tax donkey because the transaction costs of selling are so prohibitive. "

I think that's overstated. Moving out a business seems more risky than moving from a house. Sure, some people can get another job easily, but most can't -- especially now. As far avoiding sales taxes go, alot of people have the option of buying in an adjacent county or state.

A political property tax rebellion will be more difficult because the larger media won't focus on local tax rates. And, here, reliable voters such as seniors and the disabled get large exemptions which largely shield them from the burden.

In a way we are already seeing something of a property tax rebellion. People are voting with their wheels. The traffic in Chicago is now supposed to be the worst in the nation. At the same time, Chicago is losing population and the collar counties are gaining.