It was written:

What are you kidding about that? I don't know about Chicago or LA, but NYC pays a disproportionate amount of taxes to the federal government, and I suspect that's true for most other major cities.

My reply:

Oh please...most of the tax-burden is a result of 3 things, the staggering amount of money that is redirected back to the cities in the form of subsidies (welfare, infrastructure), large ag-subsidies, and corporate welfare.

I am most familiar with Chicago but that city is the drain on the States finances (although I was in NY last; sorry I missed you : )

Chicago is basically self contained and really ought to become its own little state and leave the rest of the state alone from their corrupt, bloated, inefficient ways. But that will never happen because the rest of State subsidizes Chicago.

Heck I still remember working my little plot of land, only have it annexed to a city, and be told my water rights are being superceded by the city, and I could no longer utilize my well, that I had to go on city water, and being handed a bill for city hook-up and now a monthly water and sewer bill.

Then my properties taxes go up by ten-fold and some jerk tells me my fertile land is no longer valuable for agriculture but is better utilized being paved over with a supermarket on top of it.

So I now pay about 4000.00 a year more in taxes. And for what, if someone came on my property without being invited I would just blow his head off. No need for no police. I already had pure water so what do I need city water for?. Oh I guess it needs to be treated because now that we have a large city the water is not going to be fit to drink. Personally I am still trying to find one benefit to city life.

Anyway, it is obvious we disagree. And normally I think that is okay, but I wonder how come of late every time someone disagrees with me it is because they want to use the Government to dig out more money from my wallet to pay for something they want or another one of my god-given right (unalienable rights in terms of our country's founding)that they wish to deprive me of? I often ponder that...

Anyway, I wish you peace...

TFB