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"We are socialist because property is no longer owned by individuals. It is owned by the government. When you have property taxes you are in effect renting the property from the government. If you do not pay your "rent" you are evicted or disallowed from exerting control over your property. "

Property taxes are tied to local government-- it's just a choice that most localities have made. They could have just as easily chosen an income tax, increased sales tax, or something else as a funding mechanism. If you want to go live in the far reaches of, say, West Texas, I think you'll find that your property taxes are wonderfully affordable, while the level of local government services you receive is commensurate with the taxes you pay. On the other hand, if you want to live in an infrastructure and service-intensive city, you have to expect to pay for those things.

Also, I would like to point out that the total tax burden indicated in the article above of 50% is just flat wrong. At that rate, government spending would have to account for 50% of GDP and it just doesn't. A tax analysis web site I looked at the other day listed the total tax burden of the U.S. at 24%.

I think this is fallacious economics. The tax burden on people who work and make a decent living is over 50% when all taxes are considered, as they must be. The government now represents 24% of GNP, and is on the rise. Here is the real question. When the government grows to 50% of GNP, is that the max it can go before it collapses? I don't think the government can take enough to support itself if it is over 50% of the economy.

Also, I would like to point out that the total tax burden indicated in the article above of 50% is just flat wrong. At that rate, government spending would have to account for 50% of GDP and it just doesn't. A tax analysis web site I looked at the other day listed the total tax burden of the U.S. at 24%.

Ahh, but we all don't pay taxes, do we. The poor spend from the system but don't put in. The very rich pay at massively reduced rates by using loopholes and lawyers. That leaves the middle class (really any salaried employee basically) as the real taxPAYER in the system.

For us the 50% is conservative. Do the simple math. 39% top rate on income + 8.5% state income (my state) + sales tax (0% in my state) + excise taxes on gas, booze, etc. + capital gains (double taxation) ... 50% is very conservative accounting.