Maryland Rain Tax (Yes, a rain tax)

So, due to the EPA ordering the state of Maryland to reduce nitrogen levels by 22% in Chesapeake Bay, the wonderfully socialistic government of the state passed a 'Rain Tax' that goes into effect on July 1st and naturally, the government itself is immune to this tax.

When are people going to stand up for themselves? Taxes such as this one are the very reason the colonies revolted against the English crown, and yet here we are, dealing with it all over again and allowing it to occur.

I propose a new tax, how about the people impose a tax on the government for every lie that is proven to be such, that is told by the government? We could give it a nice name like 'The forked-tongue tax', or 'The B.S. tax".

If the government is so concerned with the ecological effect that runoff water is having on the environment, why then are THEY immune to the tax?

It took every ounce of self-control that I possess to write this while maintaining some form of decorum, Read the article and judge for yourselves.

Maryland Rain Tax

So basically what this is, is that whatever amount of space your roof or driveway takes up means you are now taxed for it. Here is how they find out how much you "owe"

I think Obama is in need of some serious cash..

Well, you ask, “How on earth can the government know how much impervious surface I own?” Answer: It’s not on earth, it’s in the sky. Thanks to satellite imagery and geographic information systems, Big Brother can measure your roof and driveway (and you thought drones were only used for killing terrorists).

reply to post by ProfessorChaos


I submit to you that they perform illicit illegal activities in their cars with the windows rolled up before they pitch their new ideas for laws.

And then before they put those laws into force, they go and do it again to make sure it seemed like a good idea.

This is unbelieavable!

I read the article you linked to....incredibly unbelieavable!

Even though I am in The UK, it remindes me of the medieval 'sunlight tax' we had over here resulting in people bricking up their windows.....I kid you not. Vestiges of which can still be seen in some of our remaining historic houses from that period.

What worries me is because the UK is arguably the most taxed country in the world, it would not surprise me in the least that they try something like this over here.

Oh, and just wait until they ramp up the geo-engineering! I can see people turning into bedouins and removing themselves to those vast swathes of deserts you have over there......no such luck for us over here....we have a LOT of rain!

Rainbows
Jane

Originally posted by Pelvi
So basically what this is, is that whatever amount of space your roof or driveway takes up means you are now taxed for it. Here is how they find out how much you "owe"

I think Obama is in need of some serious cash..

Look at what bush did and clinton did and the other bush did and all before him all is not obamas fault. seems people quickly what happened even 10 years ago and what was going on in the country then . This has been an ongoing thing for a long long time time for you americans to take control of your country it might even be far to late to even save your country . they have all bleed your country dry and still almost everyone still has their head up their anuses and don't even suspect a a fall of the country . They said rome couldn't fail and it did the country is bankrupt there is no more wealth or money , cant even afford the interest rates . the government is desperate while all their buddies hide money in off shore banks tax havens

Originally posted by Pelvi
So basically what this is, is that whatever amount of space your roof or driveway takes up means you are now taxed for it.

That's right. And how much you pay has nothing to do with how much it rains. Great name, that "Rain Tax".

This is yet another in what appears to be an endless parade of governmental abuse taxes; by doing nothing about it, the citizens of this country are just as culpable as the elected officials.

Was raised on the Eastern Shore, Kent county.

Rain tax... soooo... the state government is, in a roundabout way claiming ownership of rain?

Can't wait till some people get flooded and start protesting to get the governments rain off their lands and seeking recourse for the damages caused by this government rain.

We need a tax on stupid, unnecessary legislation. We should tax the legislator who came up with this idea to the tune of all the money he thought it would raise.

Originally posted by Terminal1
Was raised on the Eastern Shore, Kent county.

Rain tax... soooo... the state government is, in a roundabout way claiming ownership of rain?

Can't wait till some people get flooded and start protesting to get the governments rain off their lands and seeking recourse for the damages caused by this government rain.

edit on 13-4-2013 by Terminal1 because: typo

Brilliant! Love it!
Rainbows
Jane

A good reason to collect and store the water that would otherwise runoff your property and into the drains. Then you can use it to water your garden/yard when it's needed. Rainwater is much better for plants/soil than tap water, which kills off all the beneficial microorganisms that live in the soil. Install a water-butt or two, and see how your plants flourish without even the need for chemical feeding, although you may need to add organic matter/compost to your soil for good results.

Presumably you could get an exemption from having to pay this tax if you stop the water from running off your property? It's good for the environment too!

reply to post by FireballStorm


In my opinion, we shouldn't be thinking of ways to cope with this ridiculous tax, we should be standing up and forcing the government to remove it entirely.

There is no silver lining with an abusive law like this.

The rain is not being taxed. That's ridiculous. There's obviously a flooding problem going on in some Maryland counties, using porous pavements could help the situation.

Something similar already exists in the UK as part of the water bill - its known as surface water runoff - i.e. the rain that runs off one's property into surface drains. You are exempt if you can show that none goes into the public street drains.

the answer is very simple if you dont want to pay the tax. I quite agree with it. We have same problem in UK with water runoff flooding the drains when the ground should be absorbing the water instead. All you have to do is dig up your concrete lawn and put down gravel so the rain water can soak ino the ground. This also benefits undergound water sources by allowing it to be topped up .

reply to post by minor007


It's not "very simple". What is happening is the government is forcing property owners to incur more cost in owning their properties. The "simple" solution that you are mentioning is something that would cost an exorbitant amount of money to the average homeowner while not impacting government properties at all.

The tax is simply charging the property owners to pay for these nitrogen limits that are set by the government. How hypocritical is it for the government to charge the average citizen and not themselves for something that, if it is indeed a real issue, they are equally culpable for?

So why didn't they make it illegal to fertilize your lawns and flower gardens more than once a year instead of putting on a tax. That would help more than taxing people. I see the expense of taking these chemicals out of the stormwater is a lot but why can't they fix the problem the right way. I know a lot of people that keep putting fertilizer on their lawns all summer, that is not good. Just to make your lawn look impressive to others. I like dandelions, clover, and plantain myself, good food and also they are very heat tollerant. A little rye mixed in and the yard always looks good at a distance if mowed higher.

reply to post by ProfessorChaos


Sorry I am confused. So you prefer to do nothing to combat the nitrogen going into the sea? So its ok for wildlife to suffer because you cant be bothered to turn your concrete lawn into a more porous one

reply to post by rickymouse


I agree with you to some extent. All you have to do is look at whats happening to floridas wildlife due to ppl fertilising their lawns

Well, since the people are being taxed on rain, they can collect it as they see fit and stop paying for any other source of water, or will they be fined for collecting what they're paying for?

I can't see how that possibly falls under the enumerated powers (article says it's an EPA mandated payment). It just sounds to me that the state of Maryland needs to get a sack and tell the EPA and federal government to F&%$ O%#!!!