There is Only One Proper Way to Pay Down Deficits
Steven Cord
[
GroundSwell, January 2012]
Raising taxes on things produced wont pay down either the
federal Deficit or the state and local Deficits - they burden
the economy and feed the Deficits; doing that is like pouring gasoline
on a raging fire to put it out. Instead, tax land assessments rather
than what is produced. Consider:
1) If land assessments are taxed more, then land-sites will have to
be used more productively in order to pay the tax. It will also enable
the paying down of the Deficit.
2) If production is taxed less (because land is taxed more), the
economy will be promoted.
3) Most voters will pay less if what they produce is taxed less and
their land is taxed more. Land rent is only a small part of their
total income, probably for you also.
But a land tax absolutely must be introduced gradually. Landowners
are entitled to sufficient time to adjust to a new tax arrangement
(just not forever).
Heres how to accomplish these 3 goals: levy a 15% tax on land
values in the first year and allow 15% of that tax to be applied by
the landowner as a credit for reducing his/her taxes on buildings.
This is the 15%-15% Plan. Expand in the years following. Give
landowners sufficient time to adjust to a new type of tax (just not
forever).
State and local deficits can easily be paid down this way, but so can
the federal Deficit. Reply (at no cost or obligation) to find out how
to do all this.
In short, gradually tax land assessments more, what the voters
produce less.
Individual property-tax increases can be limited to 3% per annum.
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