I hate texas.

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ryan brown

ryan brown

lOwEr CaSe Member
Been here for five years now, and never in my life have I seen (or even imagined) the extent the state takes to bend you over and rape you in the pooper.

To sum up:

My Dad was injured last year at work. Basically his entire left side was crushed, and he'll never walk properly again (best case scenario, he walks with a cane and an extreme limp). We can't file suit because under tx law, it states that if the accident was caused by another member of the same company (American Airlines in our case), and the company pays the medical bills and workers comp, you are unable to file suit. He'll get MAX 60k, and never be able to do labor work again, or even walk faster than a snail. He's screwed, and my life has been hell living/taking care of him for the past 21 months.

That's been the main issue, then today they put the icing on the cake.

I got a car from a friends parents. It was missing the front bumper after her other son put it through a ditch, and they knew I needed a car, so they gave it to me for $500 (it's a 1994 BMW, so they were being generous to say the least).

I finally got around to fixing it up, and took it down to get it registered this morning.

Because of a law that passed last year, I had to pay taxes on what the state valued the car at, not what I paid for it. They valued it at 6 grand, and I paid over $500 in taxes. Just OVER 100% tax rate.

Now how is this legal?? here's the law: Standard Presumptive Value

So I have to pay taxes on something I didn't even buy. How is this different than going to a store, finding a pair of shoes on mark down clearance and paying $20 dollars for them, then going to ring it up and the state saying that they're actually worth $120, so you have to pay taxes on the 120?

They're just outright stealing my money, and ruining my Father's life.

Don't even get me started on the TABC (texas alcohol beverage commision) officers going into bars "undercover", drinking with patrons, then arresting them on the spot for public intox. Or walking around bar parking lots marking tires with large red "X's" so the cops can pull them over later.

Or the complete right turn onto a busy highway onramp down the street from my house that has killed more people than I can count.

or the...

F@#K I HATE IT HERE.


Sorry for the rant, but had to get it out. And have to get out.
 
That is horrible. Keep in mind there are 50 states, all with varying laws, for a reason. (in Nevada that same law about "appraised value" for car registration applies too, so shop around... in Nevada it can cost $800 or more to register your car; in NC it's more like $30. But Nevada has no personal income tax, NC does. So you'll have to shop around).

Don't waste another minute of your all-too-short life living in a place you hate; there are at least 49 other options within this country, and hundreds of other countries...
 
rcbrown23 said:
Don't even get me started on the TABC (texas alcohol beverage commision) officers going into bars "undercover", drinking with patrons, then arresting them on the spot for public intox.
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I read about that awhile ago. Fascists.

I'm sorry to hear about your dad.
 
Come live in Louisiana, dude.
You get sorry government, corrupt insurance commissioners, indicted agriculture commissioners, former governors in Federal prison, state income taxes, the worst business climate.
Oh and lest I forget, Jacked up car registration taxes, implied value on your cars, and a "road tax". When i moved here, I registered a '93 pickup and a '90 mazda. The total: 1800.00 smackers!
If my job wasnt keeping here just now, and my vid. business takes off, Ill be back in the Great state of Texas in a second.. In fact, we can trade houses I grew up in the DFW area. While I dont miss the traffic, I miss that area.
 
Is it possible to file a federal lawsuit? I know next to zip about law, so excuse me if you thought of this long ago.
 
Jdaniels said:
Come live in Louisiana, dude.
You get sorry government, corrupt insurance commissioners, indicted agriculture commissioners, former governors in Federal prison, state income taxes, the worst business climate.
Oh and lest I forget, Jacked up car registration taxes, implied value on your cars, and a "road tax". When i moved here, I registered a '93 pickup and a '90 mazda. The total: 1800.00 smackers!
If my job wasnt keeping here just now, and my vid. business takes off, Ill be back in the Great state of Texas in a second.. In fact, we can trade houses I grew up in the DFW area. While I dont miss the traffic, I miss that area.
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This sound like my country haha!.

On th other hand I love Texas all the good Data Centers are there.
 
rcbrown23-

Sorry about your dad. It's very frustrating to be at the mercy of nonsensical laws. And, it always ALWAYS seems to do the most damage to the ones who can least afford it.

An acquaintance of mine bought modest and quaint house here in Woodstock many years ago for about $30,000. It has since been appraised for almost $600,000 thousand (the upstate area and especially Woodstock is a VERY popular 2nd home site for New York City professionals). She is now expected to pay tax on 600k. She has nowhere near that kind of money. She may be forced to sell a place she loves and has called home for 30+ years.

Figure that one out. I don't mind laws. Its the stupid laws I can't tolerate.
 
rlm7189 said:
rcbrown23-

Sorry about your dad. It's very frustrating to be at the mercy of nonsensical laws. And, it always ALWAYS seems to do the most damage to the ones who can least afford it.

An acquaintance of mine bought modest and quaint house here in Woodstock many years ago for about $30,000. It has since been appraised for almost $600,000 thousand (the upstate area and especially Woodstock is a VERY popular 2nd home site for New York City professionals). She is now expected to pay tax on 600k. She has nowhere near that kind of money. She may be forced to sell a place she loves and has called home for 30+ years.

Figure that one out. I don't mind laws. Its the stupid laws I can't tolerate.
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This is what our local city council is voting on next week:
If you are coming to Shreveport, make sure your pants are hitched up...

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=11B1637B9B64F080&p_docnum=1&p_theme=gannett&s_site=shreveporttimes&p_product=STIB
 
Thanks guys...

Yeah, the second my father's well enough to be on his own, I'm OUTTA here.

Don't know about the federal suit, but I've talked to 6-7 lawyers now, and they've initially jumped on the case (thinking there's going to be LOTS of money involved), but then after a month of research dropped us saying there's nothing we can do.

When it gets time to "settle", rest assured I won't go down easily.

So, so far louisiana is out. I'm thinking either LA (a friend of mine is moving there and offered me a free place to stay till I get on my feet), or Portland, Oregon. Got friends up there, and they all say I was made to live in that city, and I'd absolutely love it. Don't know about the rain, though, and I really want to be closer to the beach (although it is pretty damn close).

-brown
 
rcbrown23 said:
never in my life have I seen (or even imagined) the extent the state takes to bend you over and rape you in the pooper.
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I thought as a matter of state policy, Texas was against that sort of thing...

...seriously, I wonder how much of this state money-grubbing from the law-abiding citizens, is driven by the need to pay expenses incurred by the state in dealing with the care, upkeep, policing and incarceration of people who are neither law-abiding, nor citizens...

My brother lives in the DFW area, after having lived in the Austin area, and he loves, loves, loves Texas. Different strokes, I guess.
 
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rlm7189 said:
rcbrown23-

Sorry about your dad. It's very frustrating to be at the mercy of nonsensical laws. And, it always ALWAYS seems to do the most damage to the ones who can least afford it.

An acquaintance of mine bought modest and quaint house here in Woodstock many years ago for about $30,000. It has since been appraised for almost $600,000 thousand (the upstate area and especially Woodstock is a VERY popular 2nd home site for New York City professionals). She is now expected to pay tax on 600k. She has nowhere near that kind of money. She may be forced to sell a place she loves and has called home for 30+ years.

Figure that one out. I don't mind laws. Its the stupid laws I can't tolerate.
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theres somethign wrong there, you dont pay tax o nthe current value, if youve been living there, the tax only kicks in if youve sold the property. we have like 10 houses in my family, all have valued up 10,000% and we dont pay tax like that. that person might have the information wrong.
 
You can always move to Austin. But I suppose that doesn't get you far way from the TABC.

The last frat party I ever attended was busted by them. They literally surrounded the place. They didn't leave and threatened to call the fire marshal and have him declare that too many people were in the house.
 
Dude,

Sorry 'bout your dad, firstly.

Secondly, you may have disdain for Texas presently, but you are 'reacting' to what's happening that has nothing to do with you, with situations that you didn't initiate, with a struggle you didn't think would be yours to hold.

How happy the father must be to have a son who's helped him, though at a great expense to his own happiness and well being.

Also, on the flip side, how important it is for you to have the courage to live your own life and not be owned by another (many fall into the trap of taking care of family and substitute it for a life).

All I can say for you, is this, take a moment to breath.
 
TimurCivan said:
theres somethign wrong there, you dont pay tax o nthe current value, if youve been living there, the tax only kicks in if youve sold the property. we have like 10 houses in my family, all have valued up 10,000% and we dont pay tax like that. that person might have the information wrong.
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nope. nothing wrong here. she is expected to pay property tax based on her homes appraised value. And, its not just her. Woodstock is a VERY liberal town and are pretty good at uniting. So, needless to say the homeowners are trying to band together to fight this.
 
rlm7189 said:
nope. nothing wrong here. she is expected to pay property tax based on her homes appraised value. And, its not just her. Woodstock is a VERY liberal town and are pretty good at uniting. So, needless to say the homeowners are trying to band together to fight this.
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In Washington you also pay on the appraisal value- which goes up every year regardless of the current economy.
The stories are old and no longer get news coverage, but many an old folk have had to sell their family properties that have taxed them out of their incomes.
Without getting into a political rant, liberal Washington is full of social programs and they want your tax dollars. If the voters pass limits, Olympia over-rides them.
Politicians are the ultimate evil money grubbers and the sheep just keep going along.......
Just typing the word "politician" gets my blood boiling.:kali:


DDP
 
I too feel bad for the circumstances that have caused you to feel such animosity towards the great state of Texas. I hope your father recovers quickly and that some justice can be found. If there is such a thing any more.

I spent the first 29 years of my life in Texas (Houston, Ft. Worth, and Austin) but I've also lived in Cali, Conn, and Wash. But Texas is my favorite and it's where I'll always call home. Is it perfect? No. Like any relationship, when problems arise that's when a person (or state) can show their good or bad side. You have recently seen the bad side of Texas. But, I assure you, every state has their dark side. Some are better with car taxes, while others are better with life partner benefits. But, for me, it's the people who make a state great. Not the policies put in place by a few greedy businessmen or politicians.

Most laws and policies provide NO benefit to ordinary citizens but provide major benefits to the ones who created the laws (or the lobbyist who sleep with them). Unfortunately, the "system" works against people like you and your Dad and I really am sorry. I truly hope you can find a place to call home.


You should check out Seattle (my second home). That's a great town. :)
 
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TimurCivan said:
theres somethign wrong there, you dont pay tax o nthe current value, if youve been living there, the tax only kicks in if youve sold the property. we have like 10 houses in my family, all have valued up 10,000% and we dont pay tax like that. that person might have the information wrong.
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in georgia, i pay taxes based on the assessed value of my home. the higher the tax assessor says my home is worth, the more i pay in taxes.

your family is likely guilty of tax evasion! :evil:
 
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