by Rick Fontes

Created on: February 22, 2010

Home ownership is a myth.  The core component of the American dream, to own a piece of property, a spot of ground exclusive to ourselves and our families, is impossible to achieve in these United States.  

By definition, to be an owner is to have possession of something that is uniquely ours, under our control and free from claims or possessory rights held by other parties.  As long as any entity has the right to take our property and remove it from our possession, for any reason, we are not the owner of that property.  

The power to seize property is vested in many different authorities.  Often this right to take property is to be expected.  If you have a mortgage on your home and don't make the payments then it is expected that the lender will take possession of the property in order to preclude financial losses.

If a person buys property in an area that is subject to deed restrictions, enforced by a civic organization whose bylaws allow property seizure for non compliance, then that is a bargain entered into with open eyes.  In such cases the purchaser of the property is making a willing trade; the services and amenities offered by the civic organization in exchange for full ownership of the property.  

In the case of property taxes, no such bargain has been struck.  Whether you live in Louisiana where the average annual property tax is under two hundred dollars, in New Jersey where the annual property tax exceeds six thousand dollars, or in any state between, you are merely renting from the taxing authorities.  

In Texas we have a governor, campaigning for reelection, who proudly proclaims that he passed legislation that limits the annual increase on homestead taxes to ten percent.  Live in that home for thirty years and enjoy a mere three hundred percent increase in taxation.  Lead me to the voting booth.  

Government produces no product nor does it normally compete with private industry in the market place.  The sole means of support for government, at all levels, is taxation.  This is the price we pay for living under our system.  The only argument to be made is how best to collect the taxes so that the procedure is fair and balanced for all concerned while preserving the dream of having a spot of ground that is truly our own.  

Of the property taxes collected, the greatest portion goes to supporting our schools.  It has been suggested that only those in our population

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