So how does one person make the world just a little better?

You can do little things, such as giving your time to help a friend. Try helping people out of poverty. Donating to the local food bank. Protest war, fight for human rights... the list goes on and on.

One thing we hardly ever see is, is a call to change laws. Now I'm not talking about removing the illegal status of pot, although i believe that should be done too. What I am referring to is our blind view that if a law seems to be “ok”, we leave it at that instead of improving it.

Take “property tax” for example.

Property Tax is suppose to be used for local essential services, such as funding the local schools, hospitals, roads, libraries, emergency and rescue services. But the money is also used to fund the municipal debts, increase the mayors pay check, and sometimes is ear marked for federal issues rather then local.

In addition to all these issues, some would claim that we should not pay property tax at all. If the land is yours, why should you pay more for it each year? I agree to a point. And the line I draw to say whether or not we should pay property tax, is at the edge of the property line of our homes.

If I “own” a house on a piece of property that I live in, raise a family in, perhaps even grow a garden on, even run a small business from to support myself from, then I believe I should not have to keep paying for this HOME that I own every year.

If however, I own two pieces of property or more, and only live on one as my “primary residential property” the other properties I own should be subject to property tax to help support local services.

This will result in higher rents for the poor, it is true, but it isn't the end all of the idea. For one thing, “property Rights” should not only include protection from property tax for primary residential land, but also protection from prevention from owning the land in the first place.

The poor are prevented from saving for their first home, by aid services, because if they have “assets” they are cut off. Aided income is also something that can't be used to claim you can pay a mortgage, even thou a mortgage itself is often lower then paying rent!

Property Rights should not only include protection from tax, and protection from prevention, but also exemptions from credit. Your primary home should never be used to clear your credit, you shouldn't be allowed to screw yourself IMHO. ( Make better laws to deal with interest rates! ... What, you like “renting” money? )

Just a thought.

Wolfe