I received some very kind and supportive comments about my column on freedom yesterday. I also received several that were disappointed and/or angry with my opinion. Apparently, distrust of government isn’t fashionable now. Now, as a columnist, I’ll take criticism. That’s fine, and I have no animosity towards anyone who does it. It’s the process of the American free press, and I celebrate it! Furthermore, editors rather like angry letters almost as much as happy ones. Both seem to keep readers coming back. Same is true with blogs!
But I must say, isn’t it interesting that columns distrusting, and lashing out at, government were very fashionable during the last administration. But now, columns expressing distrust of or frustration with government are considered inappropriate.
Did we lose our free speech or freedom of thought during the last election cycle? I don’t remember that on the ballot.
Actually, the column was so full of straw men it was hard to know where to start. Your comparison of the quitrent,an antiquated (and junked) land ownership system, to modern property taxation was disingenuous, to say the least. Next: Does it ever occur to us that we can never, really, own our cars? That we never actually own our homes, businesses or land? We may pay them off. The bank may bring us the mortgage paper to burn in a champagne-toasting ceremony. But we can never, ever stop paying taxes. What the hell do taxes have to do with ownership?… Read more »
Dear Dinosaur, I appreciate your comments. Please let me explain what I was saying about property tax and the quitrent. As I understand the quitrent, the property owner continued to pay the original owner. In the feudal sense, it was to avoid things like having the feudal lord hunt or farm the property himself after the sale. It was a payment to avoid feudal obligations. Of course, it still meant that the feudal lord had ownership of the individual’s property…if only in part. The modern property tax is oppressive, in the sense that I can own my house, or car,… Read more »
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No, distrust of the government is still in fashion, and criticizing government is still very much appropriate. Fox News is doing better than ever!
Actually, the column was so full of straw men it was hard to know where to start. Your comparison of the quitrent,an antiquated (and junked) land ownership system, to modern property taxation was disingenuous, to say the least. Next: Does it ever occur to us that we can never, really, own our cars? That we never actually own our homes, businesses or land? We may pay them off. The bank may bring us the mortgage paper to burn in a champagne-toasting ceremony. But we can never, ever stop paying taxes. What the hell do taxes have to do with ownership?… Read more »
Dear Dinosaur, I appreciate your comments. Please let me explain what I was saying about property tax and the quitrent. As I understand the quitrent, the property owner continued to pay the original owner. In the feudal sense, it was to avoid things like having the feudal lord hunt or farm the property himself after the sale. It was a payment to avoid feudal obligations. Of course, it still meant that the feudal lord had ownership of the individual’s property…if only in part. The modern property tax is oppressive, in the sense that I can own my house, or car,… Read more »