Give me Tetley or give me death? Folks everywhere are less than thrilled that the market value of their houses has gone down while their property taxes are going up, and they are letting the politicians know.
My favorite is the town of Hampton, New Hampshire, where houses are inexplicably skyrocketing in value in the eyes of the tax assessor despite their neighborhoods showing typical signs of decline – with, of course, the corresponding jump in property tax assessments:
“Disbelief” is how 55-year-old John Kane, a financial adviser, describes his reaction to the assessed value of his home in Hampton, N.H., which soared 55% to $850,200 recently, from $549,300 in 2007. His annual taxes jumped 30%, to nearly $14,000. “We see empty houses, for-sale signs,” Mr. Kane said. “And they value our houses like this?”
About 100 Hampton residents formed a group called the Coalition for a Fair Assessment, and staged a protest at Hampton Harbor, waving tea bags in a mini re-enactment of the Boston Tea Party. The group urged local homeowners to appeal their bills — which many are doing. They also got on the Town Council’s agenda on Monday to advocate a reassessment that reflects the real-estate slump.
It’s not full-on civil disobedience, but it’s a start. Then again, we don’t have taxation without representation – we have taxation with representation we think is less competent than a trained ape.
By the way, that amendment they referenced as lowering property taxes in Florida was immediately countered in almost all cities and counties with an increase in other taxes (example), thus resulting in no difference in your typical homeowners’ burden… which reminds me, I’ve got some Tazo Awake Tea in my desk and I don’t like it very much, so maybe I should throw it at City Hall on the way home.
TonyS // Jan 5, 2009 at 1:11 pm
This leaves me wondering just exactly what it’d take to get Americans “mad as hell, and we’re not going to take it anymore!”
I mean seriously, at this point each person’s congressman could personally come to their house, beat their dog to death and piss on the corpse, and not so much as ONE brick would be pitched through the window of a small business in Seattle in retaliation.
alyx // Jan 5, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Yeah, I agree. It’s like we’ve all turned into Ned Flanders.
“We’re irritated like the Dickens, and I’m gonna wave this diddly-diddly teabag until you kind of acknowledge it! Please?”
Of course, the only action of civil disobedience I really engage in is sticking captions on Ben Bernanke’s face, so who am I to talk? At least the Hampton guys are getting some fresh air.
Lolo, ESQ // Jan 5, 2009 at 1:34 pm
what a stupid name for a town
alyx // Jan 5, 2009 at 1:35 pm
at least it isn’t named Grier
Lolo, ESQ // Jan 5, 2009 at 1:48 pm
both are equally retarded
liberal // Jan 5, 2009 at 4:03 pm
NH has some of the highest property taxes in the nation, which is actually a _good_ thing, since a huge chunk of those taxes fall on land.
Which anyone who actually understands economics (at least after Ricardo) knows is a good thing.
stienster // Jan 5, 2009 at 4:40 pm
http://www.votestrike.com
Here’s a good place to start. We’re getting people organized all over the world. Unfortunately, some the protests and demonstrations turn violent, and that’s something we DON’T want. We promote non-violent non-compliance to the corrupted and murderous system of the Rockefellar/Rothschilds world cast hierarchy. If you’re fed-up pulling their cart, check out the site. No fee, it’s FREE to all, always.
BlueMonkey // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Ha ha ha….I’ll bet a lot of congress critters read “tea bag” and think of something entirely different.
Problem is, everyone hates the congress but rates their own reps as okay (in general).
Regarding the property taxes – exactly. The shift doesn’t need to be from landowners to everyone (which unfairly burdens the poor – taxes on necessities vs. taxes on wealth, or perceived wealth).
I’ll bet that the reassessments were done as a necessity because other sources of local funding are drying up. And I’ll also bet the bulk of properties were appraised before the real estate market in general tanked. That’s what has happened in our corner of suburban red hell.
TonyS // Jan 6, 2009 at 9:53 am
You know, for the last three presidential elections I’ve said this, and I wish it could come to pass: I’d like to organize a boycott the vote campaign.
I would love to see a good portion of the country show up (to prove we care) but write in “Try again with some better candidates.” to every election which we don’t feel we could in good conscience vote for one or the other.
If we had a large enough percentage, perhaps we could buy back some of our congressmen. Or at least make them fall back to less ostentatious crimes against humanity…