The Labor World

HE THINKS HE DOESN'T PAY TAXES,

"Oh, I am not interested in taxation. I live in a flat and rent my office."

Flats and office buildings are taxed, are they not, and that good and plenty?

"Oh, yes, I suppose so, if that is the way you look at it."

Well, who pays the taxes on flats and office buildings?

"Oh, I suppose they are added into the rent and we pay them."

Yes, you certainly do pay them. You pay the taxes to the landlord when you pay the rent. And, what is more, you not only pay all the taxes that he pays, but you pay a lot more--enough to give him a good profit on the deal. If the owners of flats and office buildings find at any time that rents are so low that they can't get a fair return on their investment after paying all expenses, including taxes then they stop building flats and office buildings till the demand will enable them to get more rent.

You can't fool the owners of flats and office buildings very long. They are on the job all the while. That is the way they get their living. But they fool you, or rather they help you fool yourself. They pose as heavy taxpayers. They are the ones who support the government! They are the ones who ought to control public affairs!

Oh, you renters, you renters of flats and offices, you renters of stores and homes, wake up and realize that you are the ones that pay all such taxes and that your landlords are only collectors of taxes, who get good, big wages for very little work! Stop taxing flats and office buildings, stop taxing stores and houses and rents will be lower. Not only that, but you will have to put more taxes on the holders of idle land and they will get busy. They will either build or sell cheaper to someone who will build.

Lots will be cheaper and you will have a better chance to own your own home.

Isn't it worth your while? Hadn't you better put on your thinking hat? Won't it pay you to find out how these things work? Perhaps you will find that taxes do interest you.