I work for local government and I am getting ready to retire. While in principle I agree with the author one should be reminded that Police and Fire protection, schools, road maintenance and repair and other supportive activities to our lives are paid for by property taxes.
Is there abuse by local governments and local officials, usually elected? There is, often masked by local laws and privileges' and just as often unknown to the population at large (Example: when a local official arranges for the government to buy property from the officials friend who in turn will contribute to the reelection of the official. Just as horrific is that many of these "abuses" are legal under local law.
The reality , stark as far as we know, is that life is a very short explosion of energy ...... a consciousness we believe and then it all ends. We have no idea of why or how or wait awaits us ... if anything. But we do know we can take nothing with us. We can leave, however, loving memories among those we loved. True, in the short run they may more appreciate the mutual funds or real estate we leave when we die but eventually they will understand the real values they inherited if we shared them during our brief interlude of existence.
I think few people would object to sales taxes and toll taxes to fund a limited, functional, responsive, transparent government to build and maintain roads, sidewalks, parks, and other infrastructure, as well as responsible police and fire departments.
The problem is that taxpayers do not get enough services for the high taxes they pay, particularly in Democrat-run states like California.
For example, consider that in California, K–14 districts and counties receive the largest amount of the funds collected from property taxes.
And yet, compared to other states with lower taxes, California students score below their peers in standardized tests, and are behind compared to international students:
Note that California is collecting taxes from some of the largest companies in the world: Apple, Google, Facebook, Chevron, Intel, Disney, etc.
How, then, can California not have enough money to fund a functional government? And yet crime is high, roads are dismal, there are no sidewalks in large parts of the cities, there are no bathrooms in most beaches and parks, and on top of that there is a fee to pay to enter many of them! There is also a lack of public transportation. There is no expansive metro in cities like San Francisco or San Jose, no high speed trains like Japan and China have.
And the electricity is unreliable, with blackouts occurring frequently in the summer months:
The above is what you might expect from a third world country. What then is the reason to pay such high taxes in California? How is this fair to taxpayers? And on top of that, how can it be humane or just for the government to take someone's property for failing to pay property taxes on property they bought and paid taxes on at the time of purchase?
How can it be acceptable to keep paying taxes on something that belongs to you? Why couldn't sales and toll taxes be enough to maintain police, fire, infrastructure, etc.?
Perhaps taxpayers paying for the pensions for life—because government workers are unionized—at 90% of their highest salaries is the reason for a lack of services and high tax bills:
Currently, the Supreme Court is hearing a case of a woman whose home was confiscated by the government, sold, and rather than just recover the unpaid property taxes, the government took ALL the profit from the sale and gave her nothing.
There is abuse here. Taxpayers are being treated unfairly and inhumanely by uncaring governments, and more people need to be aware of that and do what they can to fight against it—especially people who work for the government.
I really enjoyed both of these movies and love your insight in how they have a similar theme about how people can cling to a house as a symbol of the past to the detriment of the people around them now. In the case of House of Sand and Fog, the movie really did a great job balancing the conflict between the two people claiming ownership, one the victim of an abusive, authoritarian government and the other an Iranian refugee. LOL! But seriously, that balance and the parallels between the characters prevent the film from becoming a battle of good and evil and instead a Shakespearean tragedy for all involved.
Loved both movies: UP for its cleverness and crossover to adults for what appears to be a children's flick. I first read the book _House of Sand and Fog_ and then saw the movie. Loved both. Nice post, L.E.!
Check out Atonement based on the novel by Ian McEwan--terrific book and fab flick. Vanessa Redgrave is incredible--and I love Joe Wright, the director's work on everything he touches. His Pride and Prejudice, based on Jane Austen's book, is beautifully photographed and directed--largely outdoors and that choice alone gives the film an unusual quality of timeliness, quite startlingly done.
I work for local government and I am getting ready to retire. While in principle I agree with the author one should be reminded that Police and Fire protection, schools, road maintenance and repair and other supportive activities to our lives are paid for by property taxes.
Is there abuse by local governments and local officials, usually elected? There is, often masked by local laws and privileges' and just as often unknown to the population at large (Example: when a local official arranges for the government to buy property from the officials friend who in turn will contribute to the reelection of the official. Just as horrific is that many of these "abuses" are legal under local law.
The reality , stark as far as we know, is that life is a very short explosion of energy ...... a consciousness we believe and then it all ends. We have no idea of why or how or wait awaits us ... if anything. But we do know we can take nothing with us. We can leave, however, loving memories among those we loved. True, in the short run they may more appreciate the mutual funds or real estate we leave when we die but eventually they will understand the real values they inherited if we shared them during our brief interlude of existence.
A profound film indeed.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment!
I think few people would object to sales taxes and toll taxes to fund a limited, functional, responsive, transparent government to build and maintain roads, sidewalks, parks, and other infrastructure, as well as responsible police and fire departments.
The problem is that taxpayers do not get enough services for the high taxes they pay, particularly in Democrat-run states like California.
For example, consider that in California, K–14 districts and counties receive the largest amount of the funds collected from property taxes.
Schools and Community Colleges
K–12 school districts = 966
County Offices of Education = 56
Community college districts = 72
From:
https://lao.ca.gov/reports/2012/tax/property-tax-primer-112912.aspx#:~:text=All%20Revenue%20From%20Property%20Taxes,used%20exclusively%20by%20local%20governments
And yet, compared to other states with lower taxes, California students score below their peers in standardized tests, and are behind compared to international students:
From:
https://ed100.org/lessons/international
https://patch.com/california/losgatos/how-california-public-education-ranks-compared-other-states
Note that California is collecting taxes from some of the largest companies in the world: Apple, Google, Facebook, Chevron, Intel, Disney, etc.
How, then, can California not have enough money to fund a functional government? And yet crime is high, roads are dismal, there are no sidewalks in large parts of the cities, there are no bathrooms in most beaches and parks, and on top of that there is a fee to pay to enter many of them! There is also a lack of public transportation. There is no expansive metro in cities like San Francisco or San Jose, no high speed trains like Japan and China have.
And the electricity is unreliable, with blackouts occurring frequently in the summer months:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/california-blackouts-power-grid/story?id=89460998
There are areas with no drinking water:
https://calmatters.org/california-divide/2021/06/california-water-drought-shortage-crisis-well-failure-teviston/
And the fire departments let WHOLE CITIES burn to the ground:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Fire_(2018)
The above is what you might expect from a third world country. What then is the reason to pay such high taxes in California? How is this fair to taxpayers? And on top of that, how can it be humane or just for the government to take someone's property for failing to pay property taxes on property they bought and paid taxes on at the time of purchase?
How can it be acceptable to keep paying taxes on something that belongs to you? Why couldn't sales and toll taxes be enough to maintain police, fire, infrastructure, etc.?
Perhaps taxpayers paying for the pensions for life—because government workers are unionized—at 90% of their highest salaries is the reason for a lack of services and high tax bills:
https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-pension-crisis-davis-deal/
Currently, the Supreme Court is hearing a case of a woman whose home was confiscated by the government, sold, and rather than just recover the unpaid property taxes, the government took ALL the profit from the sale and gave her nothing.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2023/04/26/a-94-year-old-grandmother-fights-back-after-government-sold-her-home-and-kept-the-profit/?sh=1ab56642166a
There is abuse here. Taxpayers are being treated unfairly and inhumanely by uncaring governments, and more people need to be aware of that and do what they can to fight against it—especially people who work for the government.
I haven’t seen either of these, but I’m adding them to my list now!
They’re very good!
I really enjoyed both of these movies and love your insight in how they have a similar theme about how people can cling to a house as a symbol of the past to the detriment of the people around them now. In the case of House of Sand and Fog, the movie really did a great job balancing the conflict between the two people claiming ownership, one the victim of an abusive, authoritarian government and the other an Iranian refugee. LOL! But seriously, that balance and the parallels between the characters prevent the film from becoming a battle of good and evil and instead a Shakespearean tragedy for all involved.
Classic setup and punchline: "one the victim of an abusive, authoritarian government and the other an Iranian refugee." LOL 🤣
Loved both movies: UP for its cleverness and crossover to adults for what appears to be a children's flick. I first read the book _House of Sand and Fog_ and then saw the movie. Loved both. Nice post, L.E.!
Thanks Mary! "House of Sand and Fog" is now on my list of Great Movies Based On Books:
27 Comedies And Dramas To Add To Your Watch And Read Lists
https://moviewise.substack.com/p/great-movies-based-on-books
Check out Atonement based on the novel by Ian McEwan--terrific book and fab flick. Vanessa Redgrave is incredible--and I love Joe Wright, the director's work on everything he touches. His Pride and Prejudice, based on Jane Austen's book, is beautifully photographed and directed--largely outdoors and that choice alone gives the film an unusual quality of timeliness, quite startlingly done.
Great! Thanks again Mary!!