Who is Chatham County Coalition for Home Ownership?

[Keith_Brown]

Well, then we are getting down to pretty nit-picky stuff.  Now that we agree that there can be other coalitions, sure, it could have been named differently, but it does not necessarily follow that these people were attempting a deception. That requires ignorance or stupidity of people which I do not believe. I find it far more believable that people decided on what they thought would be the best name for their group and then left it right there. 

They are going up against a very powerful political machine designed to wring this money out of Chatham County citizens, and probably have little time or resources to spend quibbling over inconsequential details.

  I don't consider it an inconsequential detail nor nit-picking.  Their name is how they have chosen to display themselves.  If no one present when the name was chosen said "Hey, this sounds a lot like that other group", then yes, they have demonstrated monumental stupidity.  If someone did bring up the similarity and the group chose the name despite the objections, then I consider it to be either arrogant or deceptive.  They've made their bed, and they can lie in it.

[bobsyouruncle]

There is a certain absurdity to claiming that the descriptive word COALITION is not usuable by other groups. 

No one claimed it was unusable by other groups.  It's clearly usable.  It was used. 

It is CLEARLY not the group we think of as the coalition, since that group is very anti property rights.

"Very anti property rights."  You are making that up. 

Is your position really that members of the coalition are so ignorant and easily swayed as to be fooled into voting some way or another because the word coalition is used?

No.

  I find it interesting what people really think about their own coalition supporters, but even though I am usually on the opposite side of the fence, I cannot believe they are that stupid.

Who have you been talking with who has "their own coalition supporters"? No one said they thought coalition members would be confused.  You made that up too.

I am not a member of either coalition. My sympathies lie with homeowners also.  I want to keep property taxes down.  That's why I'm leaning towards a "yes" vote.

I find it far more believable that people decided on what they thought would be the best name for their group and then left it right there. 

Then you are the one who is underestimating the intelligence of the group whose position you support.

[integrityticket]

Did the Chatham Coalition trademark the word "Coalition"

A google search of "coalition" does not seem to substantiate any group's sole claim to the word coalition

46 million references

[integrityticket]

Then Mo, I'll have to pass on your very kind offer.  I was pushpolled in 2002, and labeled a liar and fool for speaking up about anonymous telephone politicking.  My honesty has been questioned again because of a group engaging in telephone politicking while using an identity that I find troubling, if not deceptive.  Under the circumstances, there is nothing that this "coalition" could say that I would accept; if they had been chosen "association" or "organization" or most any other collective term, they might have some measure of credibility with me.  Not now.

Once again the contrived self-righteous open-minded indignation.

The claim that you will be open-minded fails when you add "but I won't listen to you because of your organization's name" LOL

[The Duffster]

Oh, give it up you self-righteous poops . . . you've spent the better part of three years trashing "the coalition" and now you want to usurp the name for a nefarious attempt to hoodwink the voters of Chatham County. At least have the guts to stand up and say, "We can play dirty tricks politics with the best of 'em."

[bobsyouruncle]

The Duffster Keeps On Rockin' in the Free World:

Oh, give it up you self-righteous poops . . . you've spent the better part of three years trashing "the coalition" and now you want to usurp the name for a nefarious attempt to hoodwink the voters of Chatham County. At least have the guts to stand up and say, "We can play dirty tricks politics with the best of 'em."

[integrityticket]

At least have the guts to stand up and say, "We can play dirty tricks politics with the best of 'em."

I'm not sure, but Are you saying that the Chatham Coalition is the best at playing dirty tricks politics?

[The Duffster]

I removed a previous post because I called you stupid. What I meant was that you are being deliberately obstuse.

[Beel]

Random voter who tends to go with Coalition views, and mostly doesn't pay attention to politics: "honey, we got some message today from the Coalition to vote no on the LTT."
Spouse: "I thought those folks were for the LTT?"
Random: "Well, that's what the message said."
Spouse: "Ok, guess we'll vote no."


FACTS:  The Land Transfer Tax will benefit probably 95% of Chatham County property owners by keeping their property tax lower.  It is a tax on sellers of property only.  Mostly likely it will be passed on to the buyers of said properties by a slight increase in the selling price.  All the County Commissioners believe, after extensive study on the needs of the County, that tax increases are going to be needed in future years.  Since much of the increases are generated by increasing population in the county due to residential construction (property transfers being an essential part of said construction), the Commissioners believe the LTT is a way to relieve the tax pressure on the typical County property owner. 

[chathambooks]

Random voter who tends to go with Coalition views, and mostly doesn't pay attention to politics: "honey, we got some message today from the Coalition to vote no on the LTT."
Spouse: "I thought those folks were for the LTT?"
Random: "Well, that's what the message said."
Spouse: "Ok, guess we'll vote no."

I am sorry - but if "they" are so blind to vote one way just because a group says they should, with little regard for researching facts, shame on them.

Furthermore, if it took little more than a phone call to do this for them, shame on them twice!

Your scenario isn't very realistic.

[The Duffster]

Yes - it's really an umbrella coalition of existing organizations.

Heather,

Could you tell us which organizations make up the coalition of homeowners?

Thank you.

[integrityticket]

FACTS: 

Misnomer.

The Land Transfer Tax will benefit probably 95% of Chatham County property owners by keeping their property tax lower.

 

Using the word probably in a statement, probably does not make that statement a fact.

What is your source for the 95%? Please be specific is possible. However, like most of what the LTTers publish the numbers a fuzzy and not always substantiated.

It is a tax on sellers of property only.

Is that a fact? Are you sure? I've read LTTers who claim the tax is on buyers and doesn't affect sellers. Are you all working off the same talking points?

Mostly likely it will be passed on to the buyers of said properties by a slight increase in the selling price. 

Using the words most likely in a statement, most likely does not make that statement a fact.

Slight Increase? It's .4% to be specific, or on a $200,000 home it would be $800

All the County Commissioners believe, after extensive study on the needs of the County, that tax increases are going to be needed in future years.

ALL county commissioners. There's a problem when they are all members of the same coalition. There is no room for other voices.

Extensive study on the needs of the County - Sources? studies? findings? Specifics please?

Since much of the increases are generated by increasing population in the county due to residential construction (property transfers being an essential part of said construction)

,

If that is the case, why are we cutting the impact fee?

[integrityticket]

Heather,

Could you tell us which organizations make up the coalition of homeowners?

[/quote]

Heather -

I would pull a Chatham 'open government" county attorney move and ask what format the Duffster wants the information in and then claim you don't have it. 

[Beel]

I love how y'all attack the voters who might be mislead by the name.  That's called "defensive."  I think Bobs nailed it--it was highly creative of the opponents of the LTT to create a group with "Coalition" in its name.  I would think that the current discussion will help to clear up the confusion.  Let's all keep it going, and keep this thread at the top of the board. 

I stand by everything I said in the paragraph I labeled "facts." 

[Big Mo]

FACTS:  The Land Transfer Tax will benefit probably 95% of Chatham County property owners by keeping their property tax lower.  It is a tax on sellers of property only. 

FACT:  Approximately 70 percent of real estate transfers in Chatham County recently were BETWEEN CHATHAMITES. 

The bulk of the transfer taxes will be paid by Chathamites who have already paid an impact fee if they built their home and by folks WHO ARE NOT ADDING TO THE COST OF SERVICES, since they are already here in the county!

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