The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-08-25
TENETs OF THE SINGLE TAX

the earth is the common heritage OF
all men. That apart from the earth
men can not live; and that whatever
hinders their access to the earth, in
creases to them the difficulty of living.
We assert that the very fact Of birth
gives to all men an equal and inaiien-
able right to life; and because men
can exist only upon and from the
earth, their common heritage, it fol-
lows that all men have an equal and
inalienable right to the use OF the
earth And we hold that whatever hui
man laws or institutions deny and
hinder their equal exercise OF this
right, deny, in effect, that all men are
entitled to an equal opportunity to
live, and thus deny their equal right to
life We hold that private property in
land including all natural opportun-
tiles, by decreeing to minority OF
men the ownership of the earth, and
compelling the majority to give to
these a part of the products OF their
labor for the mere privilege OF using
u
tudes the difficulty OF living; infrlnges
their equal right to the use OF the
earth; deprives them OF their right to
an equal opportunity to live; and thus
denies that all men have an equal
right to life. And we hold therefore
that private property In land, under
which the minority may wholly ex-
clude the majority from the earth, Is
viOlative OF, natural rights, and is
wrong; and that the human enact
ments which decree It,. should be abol-
iShed.
we assert that, in production, what
ever unnaturally increases the share
of the product given as rent unduly
lessons the part remaining for wages
and interest Expressly asserting the
need for private possession Of land
we declare that it's private ownership
Is wholly injurious. That, by enabling
some to monopolize and keep cut OF
use the most valuable lands, 1t gives
monopoly values to land, unnaturally
increases rent, and the part Of the
pclling labor to resort to lands of low
productiveness, it lessons the returns
Of labor, decreases wages and ham,
pers production.
We assert that land values are Gre
ated solely by the presence of popula-
ton and the thrift and progress Of the
community. That they arise with the
coming of population, grow with it's
growth and shrink and even disappear
with it's decline. That as a community |
becomes more populous and needs
greater revenues, it's land values in
crease And that, by the very law OF
its being, every community creates,
cOncurrently, a need for revenues and
q fund, land values, from which this
want may be satisfied.
We hold that to the producer be-
longs the thing produced. That land
values being produced not by any in
dividual, but by the presence and
thrift of the community, the same
principle of justice which. gives to the
individual the product of his labor,
Ordains that this fund, land values,
belongs to the community, and should
be taken for the support of the gov
eminent.
To do this, and to take away the
substance Of ownership in land, while
securing individual in the private pos
session thereof, we propose to levy an
annual tax on the rental or using
value Of land, irrespective Of improve
ments, equal to the entire amount
thereof, and that the resulting revenue
be apportioned among the federal state
and local governments; and that all
pther revenue taxes be abolished.
We hold that we would thus sim
plify and equafize taxation, cheaper
In collection and do away with per-
Jury In relation thereto. We assert
that tax on land values. unlike other
taxes. can not be shifted to the con-
sumner That the tax we propose would
nompcl every holder OF land TO con-
tribute annually to the common well
'are, the full value of the special priv
lege thus enjoyed by him: would de-
'troy speculation In land by making
I improbable To hold land out of
use: would eive capital and labor nc
'css 10 vast quantities Of land. inclnd-
M. oil. coal. iron and other mineral
deposits. and make impossible the
Of the original sources
II supply: would derive the revenues
= $500. 4