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The problem with CAD's now is they have become the source for the increased money supply. Counties need more money, they tell CAD's to increase valuations (my opinion). This let's the politicians off the hook. They can point the finger at the CAD. I really don't know this answer, but when was the the last time any city in the area increased taxes? This hurts the elderly. After 65 they are exempt from any future tax increases. BUT -- they are not exempt from any evaluation increases. Either way they are drained. It's my opinion that any one over 65 should not have to at least pay school taxes. You are having to pay for a benefit that you are no longer receiving. On the subject of overall property taxes. Should the elderly, and anyone else, lose their home because they can't pay the taxes? To me that's a problem. BTW, it's my understanding that Florida is in the process of eliminating all property taxes. Think we'd ever hear that coming from a Blue State?

Stros could have won yesterday. Had bases loaded with no outs in the top of the 9th, but it wasn’t meant to be. Playing St. Louis right now. Myers and Peña in the lineup today.

72 pages and still no Trump charges. How about Whoopi and Behar. Did anyone see them crawfishing with their remarks? Did Sunny Hostin get on the list? Oh, that’s right, she’s busy with her husband’s Medicare fraud. Seems that’s all the liberals do is rip off the taxpayers.

I think you’re on point with the property tax issue. Consumption taxes are regressive. They hit people with lower incomes/and property values much harder than those with more property value. The only discrepancy with your insurable value scenario is that I don’t see how it will work with homes on larger acreage tracts. It costs the same amount to insure a house on a half acre as it does to insure one on a hundred acres. Also, the value of homes in restricted neighborhoods is significantly different than one down a dirt road. Same age, same size, completely different market value, but the same cost to insure. But the idea isn’t a bad one, just need to tweak it, but you’re on point. My gripe is that the CADs were set up to make sure that taxes were as fair and equitable as possible. But imagine a scenario where there are four $250k homes in a row on a street in Lumberton. The first one pays $0, the next $500, the next $2000, and the last pays $4500 per year. Is that fair and equitable? Not hardly. The first one is a disabled veteran, the next is owned by an elderly couple in their seventies whose taxes were frozen ten years ago. The third is owned by a young family with a homestead exemption, and the last is also owned by a young couple the same age, but they bought a new home to live in elsewhere and are trying their hand at rental property with this one, so no exemption here. Still fair? I mean, that’s the law, but it doesn’t seem very fair or equitable. Then you hear that one of the ideas in Austin is to eliminate property taxes on any property that has a homestead. Now houses one, two, and three will pay nothing and the young couple that own the fourth home will have to pay $7000 per year to cover the revenue lost by the elimination of taxes on homesteads. Of course that’s going to pass the costs on to their renters. It’s no secret why rents seem extraordinarily high… the property tax relief giveaways that the legislature keeps passing off to homesteads are landing squarely on any type of property which doesn’t have a homestead exemption. There aren’t any easy answers, but the idea of just scrapping it all and tacking an extra 7 percent on all of the goods and services that you buy will absolutely hurt people and the economy in Texas.

I just think Toby is currently in a better situation at Shoemaker than he would be at Jasper. To appease Reagan, just my opinion.

I may think abortion on demand is wrong. But, it's not my place to interject in someone else's very personal matter. If the government wasn't so deeply involved in healthcare, your moral dilemma wouldn't be an issue. The answer isn't to fight the moral question. The answer is to minimize/eliminate government involvement in healthcare. Property taxes in Texas is an interesting question. I am more of a flat tax person vs. a consumption tax person. To me, a consumption tax stymies growth more than a flat tax. That being said, I'd prefer a flat tax (Federal) with property taxes. But, I would maintain a maximum level of property tax increase/year--with no loopholes--and have the tax rate of property be set by the insurable value after yearly appraisals. Not the other way around. The value of one's property should only be worth what it can be insured for in case of total loss.

Up to a point. I think abortion is wrong, but that’s based on my religious beliefs. Whether or not you have one should be between you and your creator, IMO. BUT, the problem comes in when a person can’t afford one. Should we then collectively be responsible to pay for a procedure that we believe to be immoral? That’s where the argument lost me. If the right have one means that the rest of us should foot the bill for anybody else getting one, then I’m out. And I’d love to hear your opinion on the movement to abolish all property taxes in Texas?

I hope this happens on the HS side too. [Hidden Content]

The government shouldn't be involved in the marriage business. The government shouldn't be involved in the abortion or not business. If what someone does in their own home--or daily activities--does no harm to others, it's none of my business. The government wouldn't be involved if we hadn't invited them in.

Same… I’ve always been conservative fiscally and socially, but feel myself recognizing more from the “other people” these days. Today “fiscally conservative” means “cut taxes and end regulation, that’ll fix everything” when it’s the not the answer. Even the successes that they point to are more like cautionary tales. There are some things that I can actually agree on from a liberal/progressive standpoint. Same-sex marriage, for one. If my wife (or I) die suddenly, there are rules for the disposition of our estate that protect the surviving spouse. Same with medical or end of life decisions. It doesn’t matter how long a same-sex couple has been together, until gay marriage was legalized, the significant other had no say in anything… that’s not right, when the only thing that would prohibit such unions were the religious beliefs of others. I’ve heard it said, but it’s true. We’re not a Christian nation, where a nation where we’re free to be a Christian. Or not. Or a Muslim, Hindu, etc… conservatives today don’t understand that basic fact of our constitution.

Good information.

I'm a fiscally conservative libertarian. There's actually a pretty big difference in that and typical conservatism. Typical conservatives still believe in some market manipulation to help achieve their social goals. Liberals and Progressives are at the total opposite end of the spectrum from me from a fiscal and personal liberty stance.

I’m just surprised at all of the supposed “free market, conservative” people who don’t a problem with all of the things you just described.

This is the new norm.

Gotta start somewhere. So you like Newsom. Got it.

I don't like government interference in private lending markets. Protecting against predatory lending practices? Sure. Setting rates? No. This Administration has already interfered way too much in the free enterprise markets in my book. This is not what I expected from a supposedly conservative, free market Administration. We've got free trade manipulation, government purchasing majority stakes in private corporations and basically nationalizing them, and desires to limit the credit lender's ability to minimize risk in their own practices. While I don't think limiting some people's access to 'easy credit' is a bad thing, it's not government's job. The only thing government manipulation has ever done is interfere with the free market, and they have a horrible track record of picking winners and losers.

Be honest. Would you really want Texas to look like California?

Wishful thinking. 👍

Currently 23 straight years that Silsbee has advanced to 2nd round. Looking to make it 24.

Huntington goes 4-0 at the Palestine tournament out scoring their opponents 43-3.

The state will not turn red. What if Texas turn blue?

Tarriffs were always in place. Trump attempted to increase the percentage that other countries paid.

[Hidden Content] Doesn't talk about him serving 5 years in Federal Prison for drug trafficking. Just maybe sex offenders can be rehabilitated and lead our education department. SMH.

Haven’t seen either team play but it would be hard to pick against Silsbee in a first round playoff game. Tradition carries some weight.

My point is now you have the Mayor doing the same thing. [Hidden Content] MAGA is sick to their stomach on hearing this news. Take a look at the fox MAGA comments. Have they forgotten?