Just how stupid are we?

One thing that really gets me up on my soap box is the subject of property taxes. Anyone who has read this site knows that not one of us owns our own property; we are renting it from the state via the property tax. Good Golly Miss Molly! How stupid are we?
First we pay the goons a fee and get permission to improve their property (think building permit), then we improve the property on our dime, then we let them charge us MORE for rent via an increase of the property's value. Now check this out: thttp://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jan/13/short-handed-assessor-wants-help-from-above/
Yup, now add to the list: you get to have your hard earned frn's go to taxes so that the state can buy pictures of where we live (and whatever we may be doing at the time they do the picture fly overs), all so that they can be up-to-date on any clandestine improvements. Wouldn't want anyone improving the state's property without the state getting to sock it to 'em even more with higher rent.
Like I said, just how stupid are we! Talk about being dumbed down. I don't think we can go too much lower... but I have been wrong before.
HUP