Boomer Socialism at it again
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He's got a fair point about locality, but your point about ownership trumps it.
If the people who live in houses that cost 2x more are getting 2x more out of schools, etc. it would be reasonable. The higher costs come with more benefits. The problem arises when it's any higher level of government doing the collecting. State property taxes for example. The people who spent more on their homes get the honor of shoveling money into a furnace for gibs on the other side of the state. That's not reasonable. Even before addressing the question of ownership.
As loathe as I am to say so, the Euros actually figured it out a long time ago with VAT. It doesn't matter how much you make or save. If you don't consume, you don't pay. The more basic the item, the less is paid. And it's constantly visible. Instead of people realizing they're getting nothing for their tax money once a year, they see it constantly and might actually react.
VAT is an economy killer, there’s a reason Europe is stagnant. Property tax is the least disruptive tax for economic development, it’s inarguably the best one for a stable economy.
The point isn't to have the optimal economic zone. The point is to take the only what is necessary to provide common services to the people paying for them.
"Stagnation" is fine. Companies used to transition from growth to value when they matured. Countries need to learn to do the same. Besides, I don't agree with your premise. The main reason Europe is stagnant is overregulation. They've stamped out innovation, which is where growth should come from and are now trying to "grow" by throwing useless warm bodies at it.
You’re contradicting yourself. If we’re taking only what is necessary then the optimal tax for economic growth is the best option because it leaves the most for the citizens.
Stagnation is fine IF we don’t have a fiat currency. Short of that stagnation is death. All of Europe is not over regulated, Switzerland is a prime example and has half the GDP growth per capita. They’re 4th in tax friendliness globally, the only key difference between the two countries is the Valued Added Tax.