Thread: The Supreme Court is hearing a big case tomorrow. It should unite everyone: left, right & center. And the national press has almost totally ignored it.
It centers on an elderly woman who fell behind on her taxes. So the county took her home, sold it, and kept the profit.
It centers on an elderly woman who fell behind on her taxes. So the county took her home, sold it, and kept the profit.
Her name is Geraldine Tyler. After falling $2,300 behind on her property taxes, the county added $13,000 in penalties, interests & fees.
When she couldn't pay, they seized her condo—valued at $93,000—sold it for $40,000, and kept the leftover $25,000. reason.com/2023/04/25/rob…
When she couldn't pay, they seized her condo—valued at $93,000—sold it for $40,000, and kept the leftover $25,000. reason.com/2023/04/25/rob…
The Supreme Court will decide if that's constitutional. It sounds like an easy case. But it has not been.
Multiple federal courts ruled against Geraldine, and said the government did nothing wrong by stealing her equity after it satisfied her debt. reason.com/2022/03/11/a-9…
Multiple federal courts ruled against Geraldine, and said the government did nothing wrong by stealing her equity after it satisfied her debt. reason.com/2022/03/11/a-9…
Geraldine is far from the only victim. The stories are nauseating.
At 76 years old, Bennie Coleman lost his DC home over a $134 bill. The gov't sold the $197,000 house & kept the profit.
For months, Bennie slept on the porch—with dementia—thinking he'd locked himself out.
At 76 years old, Bennie Coleman lost his DC home over a $134 bill. The gov't sold the $197,000 house & kept the profit.
For months, Bennie slept on the porch—with dementia—thinking he'd locked himself out.
Then there's Tawanda Hall, who fell $900 behind on a property-tax payment plan for her Michigan home. After penalties, she owed $22,642.
The gov't seized her $300,000 house, sold it, and kept the profit.
The surplus totaled $286,000. This is not a joke. reason.com/2023/04/25/rob…
The gov't seized her $300,000 house, sold it, and kept the profit.
The surplus totaled $286,000. This is not a joke. reason.com/2023/04/25/rob…
Let me put this in perspective. In Michigan, defendants found guilty of stealing over $20,000 face a decade in prison.
When the government stole *10 times* that—leaving a mom and her kids completely bankrupt—it was all in a day's work.
Make it make sense.
When the government stole *10 times* that—leaving a mom and her kids completely bankrupt—it was all in a day's work.
Make it make sense.
This preys on the most vulnerable. And the gov't has gotten away with it, bc people don't know it's happening.
Well, people need to know. Because if it can happen to them, it can happen to you. SCOTUS should call it what it is: theft, plain & simple. /end reason.com/2023/04/25/rob…
Well, people need to know. Because if it can happen to them, it can happen to you. SCOTUS should call it what it is: theft, plain & simple. /end reason.com/2023/04/25/rob…
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