PRESTOPUNDIT -- "An intense brain-buzz, guaranteed" (2blowhards)

Don't tax you. Don't tax me. Tax that man -- and his tree. Dan Walters almost has me convinced:

Taxation is, almost by definition, an arbitrary and wholly political act. Politicians decide what's to be taxed and what's not and much of tax policy is, therefore, nonsensical -- such as the disparate sales tax treatment of hot and cold foods. In that vein, it's irrational to levy property taxes on cars in the form of vehicular license fees -- treating them like land and houses -- while exempting other tools and pieces of personal property, such as computers or lawn mowers, or even other forms of wealth, such as shares of stock or jewelry.

That said, it's perfectly logical, and even morally correct, for California's vehicle license fee (VLF) ... to be fully reinstated now that the state is experiencing its worst-ever budget crisis. The history of the VLF tax cut explains why ...

Personal note. While puting in my lawn, it struck me that the very dirt in my yard was taxed. Dirt. It seemed like taxing water or air or sunshine. But depending on how you go about getting them, I suppose those things are taxed as well.