--- Scott McGerik <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > The middle class may be shrinking but that is because they are moving > up > and out of the middle class. That's right, the upper class is getting > bigger because more people are moving into it. Bruce Bartlett lays > this > out in the Washington Times at > http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20040831-101020-1546r.htm
[TB] Give me a break. The Washington Times as an honest or reliable news source? According the the article in 1980 middle class was income between $25,000 and $75,000 and in 2003 middle class was income between (ya, you guessed it) $25 and $75 thousand. Does anyone other than the Washington Times really believe you can use the same absolute standards for 1980 and then again after 23 years of inflation? McGerik again: > > How can the political leadership of Minneapolis help the poor? > > It can reduce spending and, thus, taxes. Taxes take from those who > are > striving to move up the economic ladder. Property taxes are > particularly > onerous because they are levied regardless of income. In the case of > rental property, which is taxed at a rate higher than homesteads, the > > taxes are passed onto the renters, many of which are poorer than > homeowners. Sure, some of these renters qualify for property tax > rebates, > but, until that rebate check arrives, we have deprived them of their > income. Better to reduce taxes and never have to give rebates than to > take > too much and then give it back later. [TB] You can blame the city for a number of things. The property tax structure in Minnesota isn't one of them. The city can do absolutely nothing to correct the fact that rental residences are taxed at a much higher rate than homesteaded ones. The only way you can solve problems is to go to those that can really fix them. Throwing blame at others gets no where. Terrell Brown Loring Park REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
