The Concept of Ownership

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

It seems one CAN own a bicycle- if you got it second-hand you didn't pay any tax, and there isn't any rent either.

But nothing makes me angrier than all those freeloading bicycle riders using roads that they didn't help pay for! Gr!

OK, that was kidding.

The reason I surface in this probably-doomed thread is to add: small boats!

You can also buy/own a small boat without having to pay tax/"rent" on it*.

AND if you're so inclinded (or inconsolable about paying property taxes), you can probably live in your small boat rent-FREE if you anchor it somewhere outside of a navigation channel. Technically.

(* I understand you have to pay tax on & register even little boats in some places. Not in Ontario, anyway. Which surely will end if this ever comes to the attention of the wrong person.)

[Frank Lee]

I've never registered a boat but IIRC even canoes here need registration.

Yup, probably doomed thread, didn't give it enough consideration before posting, sorry.

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I've never registered a boat but IIRC even canoes here need registration.

Yup, probably doomed thread, didn't give it enough consideration before posting, sorry.

I don't see why the thread is necessarily doomed. Actually it is one of those infrequent moments where Frank and I are in total agreement.

Whether we call something a 'tax' or a 'fee' or a 'surcharge' or 'rent' is just a matter of semantics. By changing the term, those who are in power hope we won't mind it as much. It was once said that the art of taxation is being able to pluck the geese in a way that it causes the least amount of squawking.

To those of you who contend that this is the cost of "civilization", that is the well worn rationalization which lawyers and politicians use to defend an ever expanding government. When the tax burden (along with increased restriction and regulation) becomes too onerous, the governance is no longer that of the will of the people; it is being done at the expense of the governed to support those who are governing.

[cfg83]

Frank -

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I've never registered a boat but IIRC even canoes here need registration.

Yup, probably doomed thread, didn't give it enough consideration before posting, sorry.

If you were rich then you could consider individual sovereignty. You'd pay through the nose for stuff outside your FrankLeeTopia acreage, but the idea is that you could afford it.

CarloSW2

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

But nothing makes me angrier than all those freeloading bicycle riders using roads that they didn't help pay for! Gr!

...my feelings exactly! And, although bicycles are supposed to be registered and plated--just like cars(!)--few, if any, actually are! And, how many riders have "vehicle insurance"--virtually NONE.

...our annual "Tour de Tour" traffic-jam is this Saturday (God Help Us!).

[Patrick]

Well I ride my bike on the roads and I paid plenty for those roads to be there, so I don't feel one bit guilty.

In FL you don't have to register or plate a bike, nor do you have to carry insurance (I guess they figure you can't do too much damage if you hit something).

[brucey]

I got a letter from the Assessors office recently:

The value of my house as of July 1, 2010 was 84,000$

The letter stated that as of July 1, 2011 the value was 175,000$

Yup, MORE than doubled. And I can bet next year the property tax (Since the tax is based on the assessed value.) is going to more than double too. Even though nothing has changed about my place.

Death and taxes, just got to let some things go.

[Frank Lee]

Hundreds if not thousands of people lie awake at night dreaming of ways to separate property owners from their money. I was lieing awake thinking about how little there was I could do about it. :/

[brucey]

Wanna go grab a beer man? It usually cheers me right up.

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by brucey

I got a letter from the Assessors office recently:

The value of my house as of July 1, 2010 was 84,000$

The letter stated that as of July 1, 2011 the value was 175,000$

Yup, MORE than doubled. And I can bet next year the property tax (Since the tax is based on the assessed value.) is going to more than double too. Even though nothing has changed about my place.

Death and taxes, just got to let some things go.

File an appeal.