Taxes

Here's a huge problem: Property taxes rising nationwide. In my opinion, property tax issues are failing at the ballot because it is the only tax that people can really control. It's also one of the only taxes that local governments can control (I suppose they have some sales tax, too), so that's why these issues are always on the ballot. But people vote them down because they pay so much tax already in income and sales taxes. If the federal gov't would cut their spending on entitlement programs and frivolous spending, not to mention cutting unnecessary departments (like Dept. of Education, National Endowment for the Arts), think of all the money we wouldn't have to pay in taxes! Then maybe local gov'ts would have an easier time raising income taxes for local services like fire and police protection. We are basically being forced to pay for abstract sculpture and morally offensive artwork instead of adequately funding the local fire department. Property taxes also, are not really fair to everyone. Renters don't pay any, and people on fixed incomes (retirees, mainly) pay more than they should have to. Income and sales taxes are more fair. But that's just my opinion...