Opinion: Large land owner's vote carry more weight than small land owner?

[2LaneCruzer]

Yeah, it will take awhile for that to die down. I'd hate to be the guy responsible for doing that!

If things go as they should, the contractor who was responsible will have liability insurance.

 

[MMagis]

I recently had a similar discussion with some folks. I live in a town with two colleges. Most of the students aren't property owners, nor are they full-time year round residents. Some argued that the students don't have the same "skin in the game" that landowners and permanent residents do, so the conversation was pretty lively. Things became fairly heated about a year ago when there was a vote to prevent hydraulic fracturing in the City of Denton (first city in the nation to pass such a ban). The "no fracking" ban was mainly pushed by student groups, whereas most landowners didn't want a ban. We've had another recent issue with controversy over a civil war memorial on the town square. Student groups are petitioning to have it removed.
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One would assume those students are not registered residents? Why are they allowed to vote on anything?

 

[MossRoad]

Let's say you are a state regulatory agency and are considering a rule that would prohibit any "person" from emitting visible smoke from any operation within the state under any circumstances, subject to a $10,000 per day fine. Due process requires a public hearing so that those affected can have meaningful input into the process.

First the Boy Scouts say they can never have a campfire or ceremonial fire.
Dad says he can never charcoal a hamburger on the grill or build a fire in the fireplace.
The fire department says they can never practice their trade on an old dilapidated building.
The Health Department says they can never order health related nuisances burned.
The Local Utility says it will have to install $500 million dollars worth of pollution control on the 90 year old facility, so they will shut it down, and it is scheduled to be shut down and replaced within 10 years.

Miss Fussbudget says that the smoke from the grill makes her cough, and her eyes water, and the neighbor's fireplace does the same thing.

The local Environmental organization puts on evidence of the health effects of smoke, smog, dust, and its cost to society.


So, how does the agency handle this? Any takers?

Shoot Miss Fussbudget, of course. Geeze, that was too easy.

 

[MossRoad]

These days, the EPA has assumed responsibility for turning rivers orange.

OOooooo!!!!! Good one, Mike! :thumbsup:

 

[ovrszd]

Shoot Miss Fussbudget, of course. Geeze, that was too easy.

Moss, how can you be so politically and ethically correct in some situations and be such a "Redneck" in others. That's so cool.

 

[gsganzer]

One would assume those students are not registered residents? Why are they allowed to vote on anything?

I'm pretty sure they can register as residents and vote. I think you just need a utility bill showing your address to register as a resident and vote.

 

[orezok]

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that the farmer does not pay taxes on his products or his land. The people who consume those products pay the taxes, the farmer is only the vehicle for payment to the government. The farmer is still just a single residence on a large parcel.

 

[MossRoad]

Moss, how can you be so politically and ethically correct in some situations and be such a "Redneck" in others. That's so cool.

Lack of ethics....

 

[ovrszd]

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that the farmer does not pay taxes on his products or his land. The people who consume those products pay the taxes, the farmer is only the vehicle for payment to the government. The farmer is still just a single residence on a large parcel.

In California farmers don't pay property tax on their land??? Really????

How bout on the millions of dollars worth of equipment sitting in their machine sheds???? They don't pay property taxes on that either????

How bout the agricultural product that he has onhand at the beginning of the calendar year??? Is he not assessed on that either???

Property tax in California doesn't include "school tax", "county road tax", etc.???? Really???

So in California the only people supporting all those entities is the consumer at the Retail Sales Counter????

If that's true I have gained insight into the continuous governmental financial problems that seem to plague California. Learn something new every day.

 

[orezok]

Yes the farmer pays taxes on all the above, but if he doesn't have product he has no money to pay those taxes. Ultimately he gets that money from the consumer by adding his tax cost to his product wholesale cost. The consumer pays the farmer the money he passes on to the government.

In case you didn't know, that's how business works.