Last night’s public hearing in Durham to discuss the potential imposition of a .4% percent tax on land/home sales produced this story in the Raleigh News & Observer. One resident’s pro-transfer tax comment illustrates how targeted tax policies that ding certain groups or behavior appeal to the all-too-common desire of human beings to support a policy as long it impacts somebody else, but not the supporter himself. Consider this from the story:
Resident Randal Haithcock said he supported the land transfer tax because those who wouldn’t be able to afford to sell their homes because of any tax increase could simply avoid the issue by staying put.
In other words, it’s just too darn bad if this tax traps people in their Durham County property. And they shouldn’t be leaving Durham anyway!
