Do we need a Federal Tax on coastal properties?

Question

I would like to propose a Federal Coastal Tax (FCT) on all coastal properties. The revenue generated from this tax would be used as emergency aid BEFORE general Federal disaster relief funds would be tapped into.

The point of this tax would be to have coastal properties carry the burden of inevitable seasonal storms. In the wake of Katrina consider the ramifications of higher insurance premiums on private residences and businesses. The likelyhood is that fewer people will be insured for the next Katrina.

Federal disaster relief costs will increase. These costs should be born by coastal properties first.

Answer 1

Yes, I think that is a great idea. Why should people who live in the midwest have to pay for some rich person's vacation home, because it was obliterated by a hurricane? If you are going to choose to live in an area, you should be willing to accept the consequences of what comes along with it! You can't have the best of both worlds! Coastal areas don't pay for my snowplowing! I definitely think some areas get LOTS more federal dollars because they live in areas that tend to have catastrophic weather more often, yet they don't pay higher taxes due to living in a higher risk area. NOT FAIR!!

Answer 2

I would be against a tax but I am against the government tax kitty bailing out the cost-side builders again and again. The government should let seaside home owners know there are risks involved in building there and then they're on their own. Forcing coast builders to carry disaster insurance coverage would be a possible option.

Answer 3

Good idea but is it fair? Why not special tax on those choosing to live in fire prone areas? Why not a special tax for those who live in an earthquake zone?

As prosperity is shared by all so shall the cost of disaster be shared by all. it's up to insurers in our "free market" to make those adjustments...not government. While I pity those who were underinsured or uninsured it isn't the government's place to bail them out. They knew of the risks prior to making insurance decisions and than they whine that the government failed them. The government didn't fail anyone they failed themselves.

Ask yourself these questions:

Would I be willing to risk flooding by living in a city built below sea level?
Would I be willing to risk my home being burned to the ground by not taking steps necessary to reduce that risk?
Would I be willing to risk my home in an earthquake by not at least making an effort to construct it to withstand one?

People make choices and choose where to live despite known risks and always claim that they didn't realize the risks. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE (In fact the City of New Orleans shouldn't exist as the risks are simply too high, but people choose to live there and that's their risk). Perhaps government is negligent in the sense that they allow people to build homes in such areas of high risk, however that's why this is a free country!

Answer 4

GREAT IDEA!!!!
Then we can tax people who drive fast cars because the get into accidents and hurt people who have no insurance, and the cost of health care goes up. Then we can tax the farmers more because of the aid that they get when their crops are devastated. Then we can tax people who live by rivers because they get more aid when floods occur. Then we can tax the people in Arizona for using all of the Colorado River Water. We can also tax them more for living in a sunny state where they will get skin cancer, and drive the cost of health care up......
So we have all these new taxes which we have given to our government, who in their great efficiency, will return maybe 60% of these taxed to the people that need it.

LIKE I SAID..... GREAT IDEA.

Answer 5

are you suggesting we tax the contributors to political candidates
how dare you be so bold sir
great idea lmao