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What would tax collector benefit by capturing worthless land? If one is unemployed, naturally in a civilised society, he receives unemployment benefits.
And do banks design housing prices according to "georgist standards?" Why should a small income family pay labour taxes to benefit them and property owners and only increase their own rents? Are they masochists? Shouldn't taxes create wealth, benefit the real economy and the poor and the sick?
by kjr63 on Fri May 20th, 2011 at 06:35:38 AM EST
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What would tax collector benefit by capturing worthless land?

The tax collector could be an agent, not of the people, but of the very rich people. And if such a very rich person can get control of enough "worthless land" in an area and obtain favorable tax treatment for HIS holdings, on whatever pretext, in time the land might become valuable, especially if he successively acquires contiguous parcels.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri May 20th, 2011 at 08:14:51 AM EST
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The tax collector could be an agent, not of the people, but of the very rich people.

You mean that the tax collector would change the tax code at the moment the ownership is changed? Why otherwise would very rich people pay tax from a plot that does not produce anything? And when the land becomes more valuable, the tax increases even more. You are not talking about land tax at all. You are talking about "poll tax."

The tax collector is an agent of the very rich people now. They tax labour for the benefit of banks and property owners.

by kjr63 on Fri May 20th, 2011 at 08:39:34 AM EST
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You mean that the tax collector would change the tax code at the moment the ownership is changed?

No. More likely would be that the wealthy individual has access to tax credits not widely known or available that would offset his tax, but not offset the tax on the small holder.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri May 20th, 2011 at 09:20:36 AM EST
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I just add, that naturally your point is correct. Powerful interests would try to fix property tax for their benefit. But this goal is already achieved much simpler way by taxing labour. When property is tax free, money men can capture rental value simply by creating credit. Or capture the whole ownership by creating property bubble and foreclosures.
by kjr63 on Fri May 20th, 2011 at 09:09:43 AM EST
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