(10-14-2022, 11:09 AM)mikesez Wrote:

(10-14-2022, 10:38 AM)Jaguarmeister Wrote: Mike, honest questions…. Why do you consider yourself to be Republican?  What conservative positions do you hold?  Not that anyone needs to be lock step with a party, but what are your hot button issues and do they align with conservative ideals?

I’ve just never heard a self proclaimed Republican lament income inequality or taxes being too low and lower taxes are generally a hallmark position of conservatism.

Chicago’s situation aside.  I wouldn’t consider New York property taxes to be “low”.

These aren't laments.  I think there is an optimum property tax rate, and it's not so much that NYC and LA suffer because theirs is too low, it's that they are missing out on growth opportunities that they could unlock if they lowered their income and sales tax and raised their property tax to make up the difference.
As for income inequality, we know from history that there are few better predictors of coups and revolutions than income inequality.  And we know, when we look at places like Brazil and Mexico, that our small-d democratic Presidential form of government is not immune to coups or revolutions.  It's better than a monarchy or dictatorship, but it's not immune to problems.
So don't misunderstand me.  I don't mention inequality as a concern out of a bleeding heart or any misplaced sympathy - "the poor will always be among us." I only mention it because I want to, conservatively, preserve our present form of government.

Help me understand this statement and allow me to elaborate the question.  My wife and I purchased our dream home in 1997 for a tidy sum back then of 110k.  Through self control, prudent spending, and personal home improvements we were able to pay off our 30 year mortgage in less than 15 years.  We did this while living on one income and banking/doubling our mortgage payments.  Since then we have invested in personal improvements and upgrades that satisfy us.  As such the property value has quadrupled.  As we enter our retirement years there will be a day under your statement that we will no longer be able to afford the taxes on something we worked a lifetime to achieve by doing everything right.  We have paid taxes on every board, nail and drop of paint on our home.  Yet you want us to pay even more because we had the audacity to pay off our mortgage early (saving interest payments) because we upgraded our purchase into a personal paradise.  Punishing people for being responsible is, nor will ever be a conservative principle.  I await your clarification.

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