Property Tax Abolition

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 22:44:09 -0400

This election season, several states are weighing the abolition of property taxes. This is a terrible idea.

Local governments are sustained almost entirely by taxation of property in their jurisdiction. This revenue funds important services like transportation, emergency responders, park maintenance, libraries, and perhaps most notably, schooling. Abolishing property tax starves local governments of the funds needed to continue and expand these services. The deficit will necessitate either austerity or will require the shortfall be covered through other forms of taxation. The most readily available substitutes are income tax and sales tax. Both forms of taxation are regressive and disproportionately affect low-income Americans.

Age Verification: Exempting Linux Is Not Enough

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 17:09:23 -0400

Across the United States, state governments are debating or implementing online age-verification laws. These laws prevent users from accessing content deemed sensitive until they verify their age, often using technology that is insecure and that infringes on personal privacy. Several age-verification bills have been circulating in Congress, but none have yet passed the Senate. In the meantime, state governments have been enacting their own age-verification frameworks, California being the most prominent example. California has the largest economy of any U.S. state, and it’s not a close race. Because of the sheer weight of California’s economy, most companies would rather build a single product that meets California’s requirements than maintain a separate version for every other state. The result is that when California adopts a law, the rest of the country effectively follows suit.

Illusory Moth on illusorymoth

Property Tax Abolition

Age Verification: Exempting Linux Is Not Enough