Land ownership

[Jimbuna]

Should your land ownership reach down to hell and up to heaven?

That used to be the case but how different it is now since the realisation of how valuable an asset you may be residing on top of.

Sooooo...if you strike oil you'd be better off taking a barrel a day so as not to be noticed

It used to be so simple: if you owned a piece of land you also owned everything above and beneath it, from heaven to hell [Cuius est solum, eius est usque ad coelum et ad inferos].

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25742871

[Wolferz]

We don't own our land. Even though we have a deed to it. The county government charges us rent, conveniently labeled as a property tax, twice a year for the right to live on a chunk of land in their county.
It makes a fellow want to secede.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

...conveniently labeled as a property tax...

The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution clearly states

No person shall...deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.

1. This means they can demand that you pay the "rent" you spoke of and if you refuse they can take your property. If this is legal, then why not a "Liberty Tax", or even a "Life Tax"? My friend Rocky once said that this amounts to a protection racket run by the Government. When challenged on that he said "Well, if I don't give them what they demand, armed men will come to my door and take it, or worse. How is that different than Guido threatening to break my windows, or my legs?"

2. After the Civil War the Federal Government passed laws saying the States were subservient to Federal Law. I have no problem with that where human rights are concerned, but find it interesting that this only applies to some subjects. The States seem to not be bound by the Fifth Amendment, at least where property is concerned.

One of my favorite quotes, by Edward Abbey.

Government: If you refuse to pay unjust taxes, your property will be confiscated. If you attempt to defend your property, you will be arrested. If you resist arrest, you will be clubbed. If you defend yourself against clubbing, you will be shot dead. These procedures are known as the Rule of Law.

[Wolferz]

The really irritating part about the property taxes is...
Once a year it's a school tax used to publically brainwash the youth.
Once a year it's a tax to fund the local government.
Both Levied solely on land owners.

Where I originally lived in Kentucky, everyone who owns an automobile pays a property tax on it to fund the schools. That way renters pay a share too. If you wanted to get out of paying the tax, you drove an old jalopy that wasn't worth much.
Pennsylvania is still a bit bass ackwards.

[BrucePartington]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Pennsylvania is still a bit bass ackwards.

Off T. I remember when things were "backasswards". It seems things have evolved somewhat

[August]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Where I originally lived in Kentucky, everyone who owns an automobile pays a property tax on it to fund the schools

Here in Taxachusetts we have both.

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by August

Here in Taxachusetts we have both.

Kentucky does too. If it's tangible property that can be valued, they tax it.

Here in Pennsyltucky, they fail to see how unfair it is for land owners to bear the brunt of financing education. There are many, many cars and trucks here. A veritable gold mine that goes untapped.

[swamprat69er]

Up here in Ontario anyway, if you have a Crown Land Grant you have the mineral rights until that grant leaves your name. Then the rights go back to the crown. You've still got to pay 'rent'/taxes on the land.