Jack Stephenson

To the editor,

The unconstitutional and unfair property tax MUST be entirely replaced with the FAIREST and most uniform tax on NET income, a SALES tax!

Read Mike Baron's plea for us to support rich retailers, in his letter on 10-24-07 in The Laconia Daily Sun for perfect proof of who is ripping us off with grossly unfair property tax, just so those few can get rich from neighboring states. His attitude promotes wasting gas, polluting the air with useless driving, congesting highways, and hurting retailers in their states, just so a very few outrageously rich retailers near the border of New Hampshire can get even richer!

Everyone pays property tax, but in the most unequal and most unfair way imaginable. The poorest pay the highest percentage of their income, while it is a minor issue for the rich. Towns look at the property tax as a license to steal from all, but especially the poor. With that unlimited income they can, and do, waste money on things most of us disapprove of, BUT, towns get away with it because the majority don't think they can change it, so they don't come to town meetings, information sessions, or even vote.

The nationally promoted FAIR TAX sales tax, would rebate to everyone the tax on the established minimum income (something like $20,000). Thus the poor, as well as everyone else, are relieved of that sales tax burden. That might be difficult to do with the records in New Hampshire, but we could allow low income people to apply for a rebate of that amount.

What you spend on new items or services is a direct measure of your SPENDABLE INCOME. The rest you can save. Those with very low incomes can find almost anything they need (except food) at thrift outlets of used "preowned" items, which should never be taxed.

The Gilford recycle center has a "Goodies Exchange" building, where anyone can pickup items they need, or leave good items they no longer want. That should be a standard for all towns, as the best example of lowest cost recycling. Those who are rich enough to always buy new and discard the previous, should be the suppliers for those recycle centers, and are the ones who will pay the sales taxes.

It comes out good for everyone. No longer should the widow have her home confiscated for lack of income to pay her property tax.

Jack Stephenson

Laconia