The Montgomery County (Maryland) Parks Department is having a severe ethical crisis. We all have the chance to help them do the right thing. Please read this astonishing story carefully and take action.
This is the home of Marilyn Boyd DeReggi in Boyds, Maryland. It is one of the most historic homes in Montgomery County, having been lived in by Colonel Boyd in the 19th century. Colonel Boyd built the the B&O Railroad – of Monopoly fame. The railroad is located right across the street.
Colonel James Alexander Boyd was born in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, on December 22, 1823.
He bought 130 acres in what is now Boyds, Maryland as a camp for men working on the line, many of whom were former slaves.
Letters tell that Boyd so liked the area that he bought an additional 1100 acres for himself. When the Presbyterian Church was built in 1876, the community of Boyds was established.
He died in Boyds in 1896, a day short of his 73rd birthday. The Rockville Advocate in 1890 wrote: “Nothing could better illustrate the influence of one intelligent, enterprising and public-spirited man in a community than the complete revolution in the entire order of things wrought by Col. Boyd”
The property is owned by the people of Maryland, and managed by the Montgomery County Parks Department. During the 1980’s and early 1990’s they had employees living there, and had let the home fall desperately into disrepair – to the point that it was under threat of demolition. The pictures below were taken in the early 1990s, while the house was being occupied by Parks Department employees.
Someone at the Parks Department had the good sense to realize that they needed help, and put out a request for a curatorship. Marilyn Boyd DeReggi and her family answered the call. The DeReggis spent over a million dollars fixing up the house, and turned it into one of the finest properties in the county. Their agreement with the county was a 20 year renewable lease, where the DeReggis agreed to restore the house, and turn it into a guest house and cultural center.
Hundreds of people from all over the world have stayed at this home. Here is a letter received from a couple who stayed there last weekend.
“This was the most wonderful stay that my fiancé and I have had so far! The Boyds Farm is the most lovely location. The land and the lake nearby giving us the most beautiful view. The home is exquisite and is in pristine condition, even with the extremely cold weather outside, we were perfectly warm and comfortable. The beauty of the home, which was immaculate and warm and inviting, cannot compare to the beauty of this wonderful woman. Marilyn herself is a treasure, she sat down with us, made us breakfast, spent time with us, invited us out, and shared her beautiful story with us. If you get the opportunity, please book a stay in this beautiful home. Thank you Marilyn! You really made our Valentine’s weekend special!”
“I cannot thank you enough for your generosity in hosting us! Josh and I are both very grateful to have had the opportunity to meet you, and to stay in this incredible, historic home. We will most definitely be back the moment the warmer weather hits. Thank you so much! Bekah & Josh”
The 20 year lease has expired, and the County is trying to kick Marilyn out of the house. No one knows what their motivation is, but they have made absolutely nonsensical claims that she didn’t take care of the property – the exact opposite of reality. The county failed to maintain the property, and Marilyn’s stewardship has been nothing short of spectacular.
I have been here many times and am at the property right now. Everything here is museum quality – inside and out. Marilyn is an incredible woman, having survived many tragedies and illnesses, and always maintains good spirits and is a great hostess.
She is a long-time cultural icon in the region, and has been actively involved in the historical preservation of the county. Marilyn served as a commissioner on the Montgomery County Preservation Commission, served on the Boyds Master Plan Advisory Committee, and served on the advisory committee which led to the creation of Little Seneca Lake and Black Hills Regional Park.
The county has refused to renew the curatorship without justifiable cause, and instead offered Marilyn a short term lease which would not permit her to have guests or allow anyone else to live in the house. This lease is in direct violation to the spirit and intent of her original agreement, and her motivation for spending a million dollars to restore the property. It is also wildly unethical to try to force a 75 year old woman to live alone. Clearly the intent is to kick her off the property and possess all of the added value she has given to the property. Why would any rational person want to restore this property to possession by the same people who mismanaged it so badly in the first place?
Marilyn is willing to sign a lease which permits her to continue having guests and cultural events. It would be travesty to allow anything less. She is 75 years old and has earned the right to spend the rest of her years sharing her beautiful home with the world.
The County is attempting to evict her immediately, which is wrong and unethical.
Here is how you can help :
Contact these people at the Montgomery County Parks Department (301-495-2500) and ask them to do the right thing and offer Marilyn an acceptable lease :
Michelle Grace – Assistant Division Chief Properties and Administration
James Poore – Chief Facilities Management Division
John Nissel – Deputy Director of Parks
Mike Riley – Director of Parks
Casey Anderson – Chair of Montgomery County Planning Board
Michelle Grace, Park Property Manager:
[email protected], 301.495.2467
James Poore, Chief Facilities Management Division
[email protected], 301-670-8077
Mike Riley, Director of Parks
[email protected], 301-495-2553
John Nissel, Deputy Director of Parks
[email protected], 301-670-8009
Casey Anderson, Chair of Montgomery County Planning Board
[email protected],
You can help Marilyn with her legal expenses here www.gofundme.com
Historic Tourism, Boyd-Maughlin House
Guest Reviews and Testimonials
Jenn Topper: Marilyn was a wonderful host! When we arrived, she sat with us on the front porch overlooking her beautiful property, and we shared stories and got to know one another. The room was just as described, a spacious, light-filled, pretty room with a huge bathroom just across the hall. One afternoon we explored the grounds which were lovely in the early fall, and while we didn’t get a chance to use them, there are kayaks and canoes for guests to take out on Little Seneca Lake. We really enjoyed our stay, and would definitely recommend Marilyn as a Host! (We had a wonderful time, and it was lovely meeting you! I can’t think of any areas for improvement.)
Rebekah Czajkowski: This was the most wonderful stay at an Airbnb that my fiancé and I have had so far. The land and the lake nearby provided us a beautiful view. The house itself, a late Victorian home, had fallen into disrepair years ago and Marilyn and her family took it upon themselves to restore it back to its intended purpose and beauty. The home is exquisite and is in pristine condition, even in the extremely cold weather outside, we were perfectly warm and comfortable. When they restored it, they valued the integrity of its history, as Marilyn can tell you herself. The beauty of the home, which was immaculate and warm and inviting, cannot compare to the beauty of this wonderful woman. Marilyn herself is a treasure, she sat down with us, made us breakfast, spent time with us, invited us out, and shared her beautiful story with us. If you get the opportunity, please book a stay in this beautiful home. (Thank you Marilyn! You really made our Valentine’s weekend special!)
Connie Volk: My daughter and I had a wonderful time staying with Marilyn in her historic home. The rooms were very spacious and quaint. I’ve so many memories of homes just like this with huge windows and chickens and roosters. Leah and I were here for a soccer tournament which was only 5 minutes away – so after a long morning of soccer we were able to come back “home” and go for a canoe ride around the lake at our leisure – great pics of orange and golden trees and my daughter navigating the waters. Marilyn was a very nice host and we enjoyed her fresh eggs (Leah loved gathering them) and interesting conversation. If you want to go back in time and feel a heavy weight lifted while away from home, stay at this bnb – you’ll get some rest and make some good memories, we did! (Marilyn, I hope this post finds you exceedingly well. Leah and I both are much closer due to our stay with you – we needed time away from home together with a laid back atmosphere and your kindness. My heart still aches for you and your family. I’ve shared with my friends your story and I know that this made an impact on Leah. Life is short for some and for reasons I believe only God knows, some of us get to stay around for a lot longer. Marilyn, keep doing what you are doing and stay healthy so that you can continue to bring light into many more lives. Michael, my husband, wants to spend a couple nights here now too. Thanks for having us as your guests – I wouldn’t change anything.)
Martha Pike: This place is just as described – wonderful! Everything was beautiful, but our favorite part was taking a boat out on the lake. Lovely! the heating pad on the mattress, the huge bathtub, the piano, the fancier than usual continental breakfast. Marilyn was a wonderful host.
Andreas Kassat: We had a great time staying at Marilyn’s place – just too short. The room and the bathroom were clean and beautiful. Marilyn is such a lovely host and we are happy that we met her and keep in touch.
Amanda Oliver: Marilyn was a wonderful host and her home is more beautiful than the photos show. I booked very last minute and she was extremely accommodating and there to great us warmly when I arrived. I loved taking the kayak out on the lake, reading on the beautiful front porch, and sharing conversation over coffee and breakfast. Highly recommended.
Giu Arcuri: Amazing host, thanks Marilyn and Guilhermo for the amazing stay in this magic and historic place.
Kelley Barclay: Such a wonderful, albeit quick, weekend away! Marilyn is the most incredible host, so warm and welcoming, and the house is breathtaking! We took a spin in the canoe, watched the stars on the porch, and got to know the hens. Felt like we were visiting family!
Wyatt Clark: We spent the summer in Boyds with Marilyn and her family. I can hardly express how kind, generous, fun and caring they all are. The DeReggis are deep in our hearts as lifelong friends after this summer. They are fabulous people and great hosts. (Marilyn, our hearts are broken for your family right now. We are incredibly sorry to hear about John John. He was such a bright, loving soul. We are praying both for John John and your whole family in this time. We love you. Wyatt and Ngoshali.)
Changhao Liu: It is really a nice house, located in a quiet, peaceful village. If you wanna get away from the noise in city, this place should be your first choice. The host, Marilyn, is definitely a nice person, who will offer you a lot of valuable information regarding your visit to places of interest, such as Harpers Ferry historic town, Sugarloaf Mountain and Black Hill state park. Also, Rosemary Room, the one you will be living in, is pretty cute, with white and light purple color, which reminds you of classical flavor. In one word, I would highly recommend you this site!
Brooke Birdsong: Gracious and lovingly restored old home and warm and welcoming host. We look forward to returning in the future.
Luis Angel: Marilyn’s historic house is extremely beautiful and charming. She is a delightful host who will make sure you have a pleasant visit. This was my second time at her place and I must say it was my best Airbnb experience so far. A truly wonderful stay in a historical house, beautifully renovated and surrounded by nature with a magnificent host.
Lisa Wickert: Wir hatten einen wunderbaren Aufenthalt bei Marylin fur 2 Nachte. Sie war eine aufmerksame Gatgeberin, die uns mit zahlreichen Geschicten uber ihre Familie und die Gegend bei Laune gehalten hat. Beim Fruhstuck mit Eiern von den eigenen Huhnern hat sie sich auch zu uns gesetzt un versorgt. Da wur Washington DC shon bei einer frheren Station unserer Rundreise besucht hatten, haben wir in Boyd nur die direkte Umgebung besxucht. Bei Marilyn waren wir auch auf dem See hinter dem Haus Kanu fahren und haben dort das gute Wetter genossen. Has Haus und die einzelnen Zimmer sing liebevoll eingerichtet und wir haben uns sehr wohigefult. Da wir die enzigen Gaste waren, haben wire s genossen, uns das Bad mit niemandem teilen zu mussen. Die Unter kunft Konnen wir allen weiterempfehlen, die ein paar Stunden oder Tage in dieser Gegend verbringen wollen.
Ashley Bichy: The house was beautiful and the hostess was lovely. I have already started recommending this bnb to people.
Catalin Colacel: Notre vacance a Boyd a ete une des experiences les plus interessantes, agreables et amusantes. L’environnement est magnifique, l’endroit est ideal pour retrouver la tranquillite d’esprit, la paix et le Bonheur d’une vie simple en accord avec la nature. Quant a Marylin, nous l’avons tout simplement adore des que nous l’avons rencontre. Sa disponibilite, son accueil chaleureux, son bon humeur, ses conseils sont remarquables. Tout vient naturellement de son grand coeur et, personnellement, je crois que le lux d’un grand resort 5 etoiles est battu par l’amitie et le bonheur que Marylin repand aux etres qui l’entourent. Merci pour tout et, si la vie nous remenera encore pres de Washington, on va renouveler notre experience a Boyds. Carmen et Catalln.
Lauren Cole: Marilyn welcomed me with open arms after a long day of traveling from Bucks County PA. Very nice accommodations, lovely room and shared bath. Only wish I could have stayed longer to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Marilyn was gracious and welcoming. I would love to go back and spend an evening rocking on the front porch and chatting with Marilyn about life and the history of the area. ( Thank you and I hope to come back one day to visit Boyds and your wonderful home.)
Hussain Dahodwala: Our stay was a wonderful and unique experience. It was living in the countryside which is just like next to the city. Marilyn was a sprightly host! Thank you for the beautiful conversations and the introduction to Boyds.
Sharon Ranftle Nakich: Very comfortable and welcoming place! I slept very well here – it was my second stay but I plan for many more. The host, the room, and the land are all beautiful. The room is so cozy and clean and conversation was fantastic! Loved hearing about your masterpiece productions. Beautiful, spacious room in a lovely home on gorgeous property. I felt very comfortable and safe, and very much like I was on vacation even though I was in the area on business. Marilyn was a very welcoming host. Next time I will make use of the canoe.
Danielle Loleng: This place was amazing! A countryside oasis but 10 minutes from Germantown and Gaithersburg. Marilyn was so nice and such a pleasure to converse with. The room was very clean and well decorated. It even had a TV in the room with Netflix. It was perfect for a weekend getaway. The best part was we were able to use Marilyn’s canoes to go fishing on the beautiful lake. We caught a couple of fishes even!
I loved all the outdoor activities and sitting areas your property had. Chatting with you was also so great! Don’t change anything. Keep doing what you are doing.
Caroline Milot: Nous avons fait un sejour tres agreeable. Marilyn est une personne chaleureuse qui adore les gens et qui a le coeur sur la main. Si nous retournons a Boyd, c’est certain que nous recontacterons Marilyn. Nous avons apprecie la luminosite et le calme.
Jimbao Zong: A very beautiful beautiful house and backyard, deserving to remember every time. Leave a pity that I have not so free time staying there. So love Marilyn and their families. If I could, I’ll come here again absolutely.
David Hearn: This was my first Airbnb experience and we decided to try it because while we felt hotels/motels can be fun, they often don’t provide the opportunity to meet people from the area and experience it as your would if your were visiting a friend. We live in Japan and I really hoped my son would have a great cultural experience in addition to a nice soft bed to sleep in at night. Toward that end we got what we were hoping for and so much more! Marilyn is a wonderful host and the Lavender room was an ideal spot to stay. She is extremely warm, open, generous, and of course, could share so much with us about the area. Her house is an historic property that has much going on inside as it does outside and we enjoyed it all thoroughly. My son and I stayed there 4 nights and the highlight was a family barbecue that we joined in on the third night. My son had an absolute blast eating hamburgers, corn on the cob, fresh tomatoes and playing deep into the evening with all the children of Marilyn’s extended family who came over that night. I think the greatest compliment we could make about our experience came a couple days after we had returned to my parent’s house. My son, who joined me for the week in Boyds, was looking at some photos on my phone and asked me, “Dad, is Marilyn your mother’s sister or your father’s sister?” By the end of time in Boyds he was convinced that Marilyn was part of our family.
Hannes Rieger: Marlyin was great, what a super host. Beautiful old building in perfect shape, and she got up at 5 am to make us breakfast for an early flight. Highly recommend.
Mary Hetrick: I had a wonderful time in Boyds. The house was lovely and Marilyn was a wonderful host. I only wish that I could have stayed longer to enjoy the kayak on the lake. I hope to return in the future. The house is located close to the soccer complex and situated in a location that is superb for road biking. Chatting with Marilyn over breakfast made my stay all the more enjoyable.
Bart Dobers: Marilyn was one of the most delightful hostesses that we have ever had. She made us feel so welcome at the house and even served us icecream on the porch. She told us about the history of the house and the area. The room was very warm and welcoming. It was a shame that we only had a limited amount of time to spend there and with her. I truly hope that Marilyn can keep the house after all that she and her family have done to it. The Parks Department would be making a big mistake if they did not allow her to remain there and to allow the house to be what it was originally intended: a reminder of the history of the area.
Dahlia Shvets: Marilyn is a very sweet and happy woman. She is full of great stories and advice about life. I enjoyed getting to know her during our stay. The house and property is extremely beautiful and a peaceful place to stay.
Manman Hu: Marilyn is a great host! She made us feel at home immediately. She also introduced us to her lovely family. This historic house is very pretty, decorated with nice vintage furnitures.
Laken Shumate: It’s a quiet place in the country and very welcoming. I loved my room. It’s beautiful!
Lilia Fuquen: What a delightful experience! The Lavender Room was perfectly appointed and comfortable, with big windows letting in the fresh country air, the bathroom is huge and bright and clean too. Marilyn is the perfect hostess, always available and happy to sit for a cup of tea and share stories of the many adventures she’s lived. I felt so safe and comfortable there that I had no trouble sleeping the first night, which I often have trouble with. Marilyn is such a wonderful person. I’m so lucky to have stayed at her home and spent some time with her. The house is lovely, the property is beautiful, and the people are gems.
Christoph and Sabina Zosel: Perfect stay! The room looks like the pictures; it’s friendly and clean. All renting rooms and the bathroom are on the 1st floor with a beautiful view. Besides you can use the kitchen and freezer. Breakfast was included because of a stay under 2 weeks. The house is a beautiful old farmhouse with a big garden and direct access to the lake. Marilyn has a canoe and a kayak with safety jackets for your own trips. Also you can play badminton, use the grill or relax in/at the pool. Planning the day Marilyn will give you a bunch of tips. (Thanks Marilyn for your time, the interesting talks and tips.)
Marlena Maziarz: Marilyn is an excellent host. She’s warm and kind, she made me feel right at home from the moment we met. The accommodations were as I imagined they would be, beautifully decorated, clean and comfortable. On top of that I was welcome to use anything else in the house and garden. I took a stroll in the back yard one evening and saw several deer and a beaver! I was also welcome to use the canoe – I took it out for only an hour and managed to see fish, turtles, and several species of birds. I was more than happy with my stay. Oh, and Marilyn serves excellent breakfast, just the way you like it. I loved the company, the stories, the beautiful home and the wildlife right in the back yard.
Clare Wardwell: Beautiful room in a beautiful home in a beautiful area. We had a great time staying at Marilyn’s. She was a kind and friendly host and had many great stories to tell. She provided us a delicious breakfast spread both mornings of our stay – it was a great way to start each morning. We would definitely stay here again next time we’re in town. (Thank you for being such a great host. We had a great time staying in your home and it was a pleasure to meet you!)
Liz Weyer: I had a lovely time visiting Marilyn’s lovely home in Boyds. Comfy beds, cozy home. Marilyn is a delight!! I feel everything is as described. A lovely country home.
Laura Young: Marilyn is one of the most welcoming people I have ever met. She will go out of her way to make you feel comfortable. The room itself is beautifully furnished and you have a prime spot to watch birds, red foxes and other wildlife as the sun rises. A lovely and special country experience.
Ernest Williams: My week spent in Boyds was very comfortable and pleasant. Marilyn was most gracious and hospitable. The accommodations were historic, but very comfortable. The electric mattress warmer came in very handy when the white snow covered the landscape! Marilyn shared her love of the community with me, even introducing me to a local artist whose pictures I had admired. I came and went through the back door and kitchen, just as I would have at home, and brewed my own coffee any time of the day I felt that need. The train running through the quiet little historic town seemed to turn up the volume of its whistle at night, which awakened me the first night. But from then on, it was never an issue. The grounds are expansive and beautiful with snow. Marilyn said the lake behind her home has lots of fish, but I did not try my luck. (Your friendliness and accommodation of my granddaughter and daughter was very genuine and heartfelt.)
Christina Johnson: Marilyn was absolutely delightful. She is so proud of her beautiful and historic home, and set up a beautiful breakfast each morning which I had not expected. She looked to make me comfortable in every way. She is so knowledgeable, not just about her area, but about many topics. The house was filled with so many interesting books, antiques, and artistic touches. Her surrounding land and gardens are lovely. My bed was comfortable, with a heated mattress pad! She even put up blinds for me, as I need to be in a dark room. I had a great smart TV in my room, so I could download Netflix movies! What a luxury. I will stay here again!
Louis Abelman: Meeting Marilyn was a highlight of a too brief trip to Montgomery county to attend a wedding. She went above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay. Over the course of a few fascinating conversations, she shared with us the heritage of a special home which has been in her family for many years. I felt like I had known her a long time and I hope to see her again. (Marilyn, have a wonderful summer in your country paradise!)
Tom Herrick: Marilyn is an engaging and gracious host. She made us feel very welcome and accommodated our gluten-free needs. We shared good conversation on a variety of topics ranging from gardening to music and visual arts. Our activities had us coming and going at odd hours; Marilyn made it possible for us to get into the house at late hours. Her home is a lovely restored country house on several acres that backs up to a lake. We enjoyed large rooms with high ceilings, including the large shared bathroom. The bedroom is upstairs offering nice views of the surrounding countryside. I would stay there again when we come back to the area.
Virginia Rogers: We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this lovely 19th century home in the quiet town of Boyds. My room was charming and the bed very comfortable. My teenage granddaughter was given a small adjoining room which met her needs perfectly. Breakfast was elegantly served. The house is an easy walk to the MARC station where we could take the short ride into DC on the day we didn’t need a car there. Our hostess welcomed us warmly and gladly shared her vast amount of knowledge of the area, including our nation’s capital and particularly cultural activities. The home boasts both a grand piano and a player piano, and guests are invited to play either or both (the only time I’ve been successful at making beautiful music come from an instrument was on the player piano). Marilyn’s 3 children, spouses, and 8 grandchildren all live within a mile of her, and all appear to be musically talented. We were encouraged to participate in her family’s activities, and it was delightful. This was a home I will look forward to returning to on subsequent trips to Washington. Thank you so much for making me feel like a part of the family.
The Pride of Ownership Principle. It’s why government should not own any property. Where would you prefer your daughter to be at 2:00 in the morning with a couple of her friends; Central park or Disney World? It’s always about the money. They don’t want to do anything but still believe they are due the benefits. It’s why so many progressives either work or are government contractors. I found one company in Connecticut that did government consulting. They did not deliver any product of service. They had 4,500 government contracts they were working on at the time of my research. Are you starting to see what is wrong with our country and why our constitution was set up to restrain government and protect individual property rights. The annual Federal budget has gone from $314 Billion in 1950 to $3.4 Trillion today. The ruling oligarchy has ransacked it and provides themselves either a life long of wages to their cronies and benefits to their special interest groups. They do it by forcing taxation on people. Most likely this home was turned over to the state or county originally to avoid the costly property taxes that owners couldn’t any longer afford without having some sort of money generated by the property. Unless you can find the original agreement and see if this is the case, the Constitutional Rights to preserve it are most likely long ago usurped as many of our rights have been.
Pride of ownwership.
I worked off some of my college debt as a repo man in East St Louis, and was amazed at how rapidly Section 8 housing delapidated after construction/renovation. I was a regular visitor to numerous housing projects that used the exact same floor plans as military housing that I had lived in. Most of the details of construction were the same, but often nicer fixtures were used in the public housing than what I had seen on military bases. In less than 3 years after total gut jobs, these projects looked like a war zone, and often sounded like one.
From my experience, military housing was rehabbed about every 20 years, and was still in better shape than the 3 year old rehabs of the PJ’s.
Section 8 is a disaster. People would be shocked if people knew how the welfare set is benefiting from section 8. You get people living in 4 bedroom houses free or for a few bucks a month.
When I worked as a repoman, those folks that lived in Section 8 housing drove nicer cars, ate better, and had more and nicer possessions than I did. Most of them had large screen TV’s, serious sound systems, brand new furniture and appliances, and all of it from rental companies that charged 3-4 times what retailers charge. Your tax dollars at work, while they sit on their asses drinking, doing drugs, and making more babies.
I have a friend that is a landlord with several homes, and he describes the section 8 occupants just like you describe. He says the men (if they are around) sit around all day playing video games and people are very demanding and entitled. One woman section 8 renter had to contribute to her rent, $1 a month. So she tells him she’ll pay the entire years rent in one payment LOL.
If you pay a property taxe it is not yours.
tax
Interesting theory, but not true. Everything I own is taxed, and the taxes prove ownership. Only the things that are not owned are not taxed.
You only have nominal ownership rights. If you do not pay the rent (property taxation) the government will take the property away from you. You basically have a leasehold interest with a right of habitation and disposition. Property taxation on a persons domiciled property here in Florida is unconstitutional because an income tax is unconstitutional. The Ad Valorem tax (added value) placed on a persons primary residence required that person to take part of his income to pay the tax since the property itself does not generate any income, thus it is an income tax based on the value of the real estate. The courts are of course corrupt and will deny any challenge based on this Constitutional right. The ruling oligarchy of our society long ago instituted various communist policies such as the income tax and our central bank. They used the Ad Valorem Tax to institute and pay for the 10th platform of communism; free education for all children. Government control over the educational curriculum and main stream media has allowed the ruling oligarchs to intellectually manipulate our society into adopting the various communist policies without even knowing it. You’ve been had gator69
You are so right Skip, I’ve been had! I’m going out right now and hire a fire protection unit, paramedics, road builders, and lawyers, all to be on call 24/7/365. Screw the man, I’m going rogue! 😆
Actually many wealthy do hire their own protective services because the government ones are so poor. How many people are murdered each year in our country?. Some by cops. Keep paying you taxes for the crappy services you get? That’s the moral and rational thing to do, right? You’re sarcasm shows, you don’t have a real rational response so you are trying to use emotions to alter the readers thoughts.
We live in a society were instead of the Citizens paying our government to protect our rights and property, we have to form special interest groups that cost us additional money, so that they can through lobbying efforts encourage the politicians to protect our rights. Even some politicians like Ron Paul with a huge constituency, millions, tried for decades to alter the system but failed miserably. We know longer even have the right to petition the government for redress of grievances under the 1st Amendment.
Every month I am contacted by such groups as the 2nd Amendment Foundation, the NRA, the ACLA, Common Cause and a host of other groups who are legitimately attempting to protect our Constitutional rights. They’re supposed to be inalienable. They’re not supposed to need to be protecting and the very institution that is supposed to be there for us, our political representatives, Judges and civil servants are the ones that are creating new legislation, abrogating the Constitution and enforcing the various usurpations, respectively. This is the true nature of government but this is not how it’s supposed to work. The question; can it really work as intended?
We all understand how the system is supposed to work but government has never been successful at creating a true civil society. All democracies have failed over time, and for the same reasons.
For Good and Evil; The Impact of Taxes on the Course of Civilization by Charles Adams. Over the door of the IRS building in Washington reads, Taxes are what we pay far a civilized society. “How we tax and spend determines, to a great extent. whether we are prosperous or poor, free or enslaved and most important, good or evil.” – Charles Adams
Adams believes that government can promote a civil society, yet not one government, democratic or democratic republic in the history of the world has been able to last for a prolonged period of time. This should give us a huge clue that government does not work very well.
I always comment; “How can an institution, that as it’s economic foundation, must take property from those who it rightfully belongs and gives that money and or property to those it doesn’t rightfully belong to, promote a civil society?” This is like saying, you believe it is a good idea to steal from me to protect me from other thieves. I do not understand that rationale.
Sorry to hear you are so miserable Skip. Maybe you should try relocating to another country.
I myself am quite happy with the services I receive locally (we are discussing property tax, and not federal taxes, which is your tangent). I chose a location where America still exists, and my representatives are still sane. I chose a county where taxes are low, and services are high. My sheriff has said he will not disarm the citizens of this county, and that he will stand with the citizens against any attempts at gun grabbing. I know the guys at the VFD, and we have BBQ’s at the station every Friday during the Summer. My county roads department does a good job keeping the roads repaired, open and clear of snow in Winter. So again, my only complaint is paying taxes for a school system I do not use.
So wrapping up, I chose wisely. I own property, and I pay taxes on services. Nobody is getting over on me except parents, who get their kids education subsidized by me.
I’ll disagree on that one. Your taxed on many things you don’t own or on consumables ow which ownership is very transient. Even renters pay for property tax in their rent.
Not that I’m against property taxes. I understand their function and understand that they are a much more stable form of revenue to pay for needed services than any consumption tax except that which could be put on essential food and supplies which basically every one uses. But the fact is that no matter what, if you don’t pay your property tax the state can take your property and thus Robertv has a valid point. That being said the way I see it, once you have paid for your property or at least after a period of 30 years or so after it’s initial purchase a citizen should not have to pay property taxes on their homestead anymore, though renters, leasers, and businesses should pay it for their real estate.
And that brings up a real problem with the system. Certain types of businesses require heavy investment in inventory and machinery. My families business is a good example. A couple million in metals inventory. Fork trucks, bridge cranes, welding machines, press brakes, drill presses, iron workers, rolls, a good sized CDC plasma cutting table, a new CDC water jet table, etc, etc. Lots of capital investment with many of the machines having been aquired over the live time of the founder. So much that we carry two 1 million dollar life insurance policies on my father, who was the founder and remains the largest stock holder, just to pay the taxes when he passes. Family businesses, be they small Mom & Pop sole proprietorships or a small chapter C corporation go down the tubes all the time when the taxes come due when the first generation dies off. It’s just plain wrong.
RAH, you are not directly taxed as a renter. If you want to extrapolate taxes out, everything and evryone is taxed. But let’s stick with a reasonable defintion.
As for property taxes, they go toward providing property owners with infrastructure such as fire protection, roads, etc… They are a necessary evil. My issue with property taxes is paying for public schools that I do not use.
Roads and fire protection can be privatized as everything should be. Why are you willing to accept a necessary evil? Have you not learned from history. Government has always been controlled by the wealthy to extract money from the majority. It even protects those that do the confiscating even if they breach the Constitutional rule of law. What is name of the Congressional Act and when was it passed that requires Citizens of the 50 States to file and pay a Federal Individual income tax. Have you every though about why all governments eventually fail and why it is always for the same reasons. From Athens to America. Our government already has failed once when the southern states succeeded and were forced back into the Union via a military junta. The north had a 2 to 1 military advantage so the outcome was a high probability if military intervention was taken and the republican controlled congress knew it.
I’m happy with my fire protection and my roads. I have no issue paying the county to keep them up. If you want to try and organize your community’s infrastructure, knock yourself out, but not everyone is taxaphobic.
gator69 – Taxation has been called a necessary evil and for supportable reasons. It is not that any one social program does that much harm, it is the great accumulation of them that has slowly bankrupted our society. It appears to many people, when we allow one right to be usurped, it opens the door legally and legislatively for additional usurpations. The average person likes to pay in little or nothing a get stuff for free. The waiting time for Section 8 housing in some communities is now 5 years. My grandmother came here is from Sicily in 1903. There was “no” social welfare. Her mother and five siblings only, since her father had passed away at 35 from pneumonia. They all lived past the age of 90 years old. In 1900, the US was the wealthiest per capita nation in the world as well as the largest creditor. Today, we are the largest debtor nation and 100,000,000 are living at of near the poverty line. The Federal Government budget alone has grown from $180 billion in 1900 to $2.75 trillion today. Enjoy you roads and fire protection while government can still afford them because all fiat currencies eventually reach their intrinsic value and ours has already lost over 97%. Do some legitimate math gator 69 and you too might become a taxaphobic.
Do some legitimate math gator 69 and you too might become a taxaphobic.
Sorry, but I am rational.
A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder. It is a strong, irrational fear of something that poses little or no real danger.
Gator, if your money is going through a middleman your still paying the expense incurred because of the taxes that middleman has to pay due to the transaction they had with you. Thus your correct in saying that pretty much anyone that is buying anything is paying taxes. Have you ever noticed that diesel is always higher than gasoline? This despite the fact that #2 diesel fuel is a less refined product than any grade of gasoline and thus cheaper to produce. It is also cheaper to distribute because it is generally bought in larger amounts with fewer transactions.
Thus you, and me, and everyone that buys anything transported by diesel powered trucks are being taxed indirectly. No different than a renter arguing they don’t pay property taxes when actually a portion of their rent payment does go to property taxes even if they don’t actually write a check for those taxes. IMO hidden taxes are the worst, simply because they are hidden and the next in line is payroll deduction for FICA and FUDA. If people were forced to actually write the checks from their accounts there would be big changes in our system.
I do fully agree with you that there should be some way to prorate property taxes to reflect a lower rate for services not used such as schools. I sold my home in Anderson, IN and moved outside that city simply because my property taxes jumped 100% in 4 years! I bought a great deal in a desirable place and from my point of view the City decided they wanted a piece of the pie.
Once again RAH, you are extrapolating taxes to their furthest extent, and not comparing apples to apples. I set a definition and you changed it for your example. I get it.
Just because we all share the same DNA, that does not make us all family.
Yes I am because it all amounts to wealth out of our pockets. Direct or indirect does not matter, the effect on the amount of income we keep is the same.
Good luck finding a tax free planet.
Hyperbole. Never said or intimated anything like that. Just noted and disagreed with all the hidden taxes we pay that I believe many tax payers are unaware of them. I’m sure you know as well as I, if not better, that there are much simpler and direct and thus honest ways for our Federal government to tax us than the system we currently have. Even leaving aside the fact that the huge and wasteful IRS has become a partisan political weapon and that the complex code is one of the most effective arrows in the socialist/collectivist quiver for controlling and eventually destroying the capitalist system besides all other kinds of graft or political favors it is set up to allow. If I were king for a day near the top of my list of things to implement would be an amendment to the Constitution that the Federal tax code for all revenue may not exceed 500 pages in length in total including all attachments. As things stand now the IRS isn’t even legally responsible for the content of advice for compliance to preparers of returns or tax lawyers.
I’m all for a flat tax or national sales tax, and abolotion of the IRS. But even then, under your definition, we would all still pay taxes. What I originally addressed is the fallacy that taxes mean you are a slave, and that taxation negates ownership. Others have since gone off on tangents.
You can’t pick which public services you want to support and which ones you don’t. Some people almost never drive, should they not pay taxes on roads.
At some point, we all have to chip in for that the services “majority” of people use. I do agree that we need to limit those services to the basics.
It does not matter if you drive. The police, fire department and many other transportation related bits of infrastrucure who support the landowner do use those roads. Therefore it is necessary for the landowner to pay his or her share of the upkeep.
If they don’t drive, they don’t pay excise taxes, fuel tax, or tolls but almost certainly there are services that they use that use the roads. Thus since the trucks that deliver the stuff they buy and their mail carrier, parcel post carriers, and trash man do use the roads it is appropriate for them to pay some.
But Gators objection, and from what I’ve seen it reflects those of many other people, is being taxed for schools when you have no children using them. This bites harder for many of us because we see our communities building Taj Mahal school buildings and facilities while at the same time the quality of education the kids are receiving in them has declined.
Then some like me have watched them close down the largest and most centrally located HS in the county there by requiring a great increase in the cost of busing students to and from school.
Hey RAH! 75% of my property taxes go to a school system from which I get nothing but leftist government fed drones. 75%!
I don’t mind supporting the local school system. But why should I pay the same as a household of 5 kids? Tax credits and deductions for kids is a perfect example of how screwed up our tax system really is.
RAH, most roads are built by private enterprise and then forced to turn them over to the government. Many of the early roads and turnpikes of new England were built by private enterprise. The idea that Goodyear, GM, Ford, Texaco, BP, Michelin, all the trucking companies and all the major retailers just to name a few would not pay for the roads is ludicrous. Why is it that almost everything we value is manufactured by free enterprise, yet we do not trust them to provide essential infrastructure? Even the panama canal was build by private enterprise. The wealthy are going to try to get the majority to pay for such things, but it they want to get their goods and services to the market place, they should pay for it. Private enterprise would do a better job at a lessor price. Government is supposed to protect our rights and property and they have not even been able to do that very well. The only think that government seems to be good at is “confiscating” the majorities property, not protecting it and redistributing it to the wealthy. This history is well documenting over just the last 50 years. As the budget has increased the majority has gotten poorer. 100,000,000 now live at or near the poverty line.
Stop trying to socially engineer society and focus on the protection of individual rights and justice. Most other things will take care of themselves just as electric automobiles are now being produces to help stop the pollution of fossil fuels. It takes time to change things and government interventions often slow us down.
Gator, I would love to shake your hand!!! I see section 8
housing as Progressive, Democrat, voter factories.
Skip
Your claim that the Panama canal was created by private enterprise indicates you need to bone up on your history before you attempt to lecture me on it. The French started it as a private enterprise and failed. The US Government took over from the French effort and the US Army Corp of Engineers were the first to gain control of the French assets and the work they had done to that point. The French failed primarily because of disease. Malaria and Yellow Fever being the most predominate. French doctors actually put the feet of the hospital beds in pans of water which where the Anopheles mosquito vectors of those diseases multiplied.
The fact is the canal was finished by and controlled by the US government. Two men, both in the employ of the US Government, made the canal being completed possible and neither were engineers or financiers. They were Walter Reed because of his work of identifying the vector of the transmission of Yellow fever and Bill Gorgas for his practical work in prevention of disease transmission by eliminating the breeding places of that vector. Both officers in the US Army Medical Corp.
BTW a son of William Gorgas, Josiah, designed, supervised the renovation of and administered the best black powder works in the United States during the civil war for the Confederacy at Augusta. He also did wonders in setting up armories for the manufacture of firearms. The Confederates were short of many things during the war but Joshua made sure they had the best gun powdered being made in the world at the time and plenty of it. Considerably better than any the Union had.
As for private enterprise verses Government projects? When it comes to really big things for which there is a real need government has it’s place now every bit as much as it did when the Erie canal was built. And private enterprise has it’s place for big projects too but can be as nasty as government. Don’t believe me then look at what has gone on concerning the Ambassador bridge in Detroit/Windsor.
As for my opinion on the role of Government. You have no more right to tell me to do this or not to do that than the man in the moon so you go to hell Bub.
Those pictures of what happens when government employees gain control over property deserve wider circulation.
Absolutely.
Their agreement with the county was a 20 year renewable lease, where the DeReggis agreed to restore the house, and turn it into a guest house and cultural center.
That was their first mistake, signing a real estate deal with the very people that use eminent domain for governmental gains. I feel for them, but I also would never have placed myself in that most tenuous position. I hope they win.
Please click the gofundme link and let’s support this fight. I am happy to help Marilyn, because I know how bureaucrats wear people down by just dragging out the process.
Politicians and bureaucrats forget that they too will be enslaved by the system they helped to create.
Never think you are important. We are just cannon fodder and guinea pigs.
In Stalin’s Russia only Stalin was important.
Your comments are not in the least bit helpful.
Thank you, Steven, for giving us another reason to end the 70-year totalitarian rule of planet Earth – induced by fear of nuclear annihilation in Aug-Sept 1945 – and solved by uniting nations on 24 Oct 1945:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10640850/STALINS_SCIENCE.pdf
I think this has more to do with corrupt, mean spirited, political hacks in Montgomery County, Maryland than it does with Stalin or fear of nuclear annihilation back in 1945. Ever hear of Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall? Those existed long before 1945.
Since this family is very well liked, is there any chance of organizing a protest? What about getting the Washington Post to do a story?
Then I have seen these online petitions all the time and people have had some success with them.
‘Thank’ you Oliver, for your continuous attempts to divert every single blog you comment.
America like Australia has few enough historic houses and properties. They cannot allow the shameful neglect of these sort of properties and allow them to slip away into history. This house owned by a significant historical figure (Colonel Boyd of the B&O Railroad), is also of sufficient architectural merit to require immediate restoration to a good state. The Parks Department of Montgomery County MD should be ashamed of its actions.
Michelle Grace – Assistant Division Chief Properties and Administration
James Poore – Chief Facilities Management Division
John Nissel – Deputy Director of Parks
Mike Riley – Director of Parks
Casey Anderson – Chair of Montgomery County Planning Board
Are any of these people really the “deciders” on this issue? If so, which one?
RAH, The short answer as to who built the panama Canal. It was the result of cooperation between the US government and J.P. Morgan with Teddy Roosevelt pushing the project while J.P. Morgan lined up hundreds of speculators and banks.
The project almost foundered on the heels of the French failure Until John Stevens arrived and built up the infrastructure to push forward the construction with one ingenious solution after another including eradicating Malaria and Yellow Fever. When Stevens gave up an army engineer Colonel Goethals picked up where Stevens left and finished the project.
Columbia’s resistance was put down by American military intervention and $50 bribes to Columbian soldiers to put down their arms.
The greatest engineering project in the world was completed in 1914 but was a whisper on the world stage because of the beginning of WWI.