Texas Republican Andy Hopper Has No Idea How Taxes Work

A deep dive into Hopper’s misguided rant on property taxes, Karl Marx, and self-sufficiency.

We’re all guilty of burrowing ourselves away in our own little echo chambers, where it’s safe and cozy, and we don’t have to argue with morons about the difference between deficit and debt. Every once in a while, we should get out of our comfort zones and listen to what the other side is saying.

That’s exactly what I was doing when I came across newly elected Texas House Republican Andy Hopper’s (R-HD64) video on Facebook.

Before we get to the video, here is the text that Hopper used with his post:

Yeah, that’s where we’re starting from.

First, I have a copy of the Communist Manifesto and have read it more than once. Not because I’m a communist or even a Marxist, but I’m a firm believer in educating yourself with or against political talking points. Especially if you’re someone like me or Andy Hopper and have a reason to talk about politics and economic theory. (I’ve also read Milton Friedman and Ayn Rand, for what it’s worth.)

Here’s the thing. Andy Hopper is flat-out lying in his statement, “Did you know that in his Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx included property tax as one of the taxes that would erase wealth forever?”

Why? Fuck if I know. Communism and Karl Marx are big, bad boogiemen to Republicans, so perhaps Hopper thought, “If I just make some shit up and blame Karl Marx, my base will take me at my word.” That’s probably true. It’s not like Bubu Trump-voter will read Hopper’s statement and run to the nearest library to find out if that’s true.

For the record, in Hopper’s statement about Marx:

In The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx did not advocate for property taxes to “erase wealth forever.” Instead, Marx and Friedrich Engels argued for the abolition of private property (specifically the means of production, not personal property or real estate taxes) as part of their critique of capitalism.

Property taxes, as a concept, are never mentioned once in the Communist Manifesto, let alone advocated for. Marx focused on eliminating the class system by abolishing private ownership of productive assets, not taxing homeowners.

I would bet that Andy Hopper has never read one page of Karl Marx.

The comments about property taxes being based on the Communist Manifesto aside, it wasn’t even the most absurd thing said in his two-minute video. Check it out:

I listened to the video multiple times, and my key takeaway is that Andy Hopper is a very confused man who knows little about taxes and how the government works.

Hopper’s first statement: “In Texas, we don’t actually own property. We rent it from the government.”

Hopper appeals to the libertarian sentiment that property taxes infringe on individual liberty and property rights. This framing resonates with anti-tax conservatives but overlooks the role of property taxes in funding essential local services like schools, roads, and emergency services.

Let’s look at Hopper’s tax rates in Decatur to see what he’s so upset about paying.

1. Flood mitigation and management efforts.

2. The Decatur Independent School District.

3. Facilities or infrastructure in Wise County could include libraries, government offices, or other public facilities.

4. General county services include law enforcement (sheriff’s department), road maintenance, courts, public health, and other county-level administrative functions.

5. Water-related services like supply, treatment, and infrastructure maintenance.

Public services require funding, and property taxes are a stable revenue source. Full stop. This doesn’t mean he doesn’t own his property because he pays for public services.

Hopper’s second statement: “Property tax is extremely inefficient... One of the most inefficient ways the government has devised to collect revenue.”

This criticism isn’t entirely accurate. While there are inefficiencies in appraisal and enforcement, property taxes are considered relatively efficient because property is immovable, making it hard to evade taxes.

Then he mentioned VAT (value-added taxes). Alternative taxes, like VAT and sales tax, are regressive because they shift the burden onto lower-income residents.

Hopper’s third statement: “Property tax forces us all into commerce... We can’t just live off the land.”

Hopper suggests property taxes compel people to earn income, preventing self-sufficient lifestyles. He’s trying to appeal to rural, self-reliant values, but complete self-sufficiency is rare.

Most Texans, probably 99%, already rely on commerce for survival. Sure, many people dream of homesteading and becoming self-sustainable, living off the land alone, but in reality, who is doing that?

Considering that 84% of the Texas population lives in urban areas, it’s unlikely that the elimination of property taxes will lead to millions of people withdrawing from the economy and society to farm apples.

Also, replacing property taxes with consumption taxes would exacerbate inequality, as rural and low-income residents would pay more relative to their income.

Hopper’s fourth statement: “This session, we will have an opportunity to abolish property taxes.”

Abolishing property taxes would create a significant revenue shortfall. In Texas, property taxes primarily fund public schools and local governments, making them difficult to eliminate without drastic cuts or new taxes.

Proposals like a VAT would shift the tax burden, disproportionately affecting lower-income residents unless offset by exemptions or rebates.

Andy Hopper lives on a $1 million, 10-acre farm in Wise County.

Of course, he doesn’t want to pay property taxes.

The hilarious thing is that certain aspects of Andy Hopper’s advocacy—particularly eliminating property taxes to secure more “absolute” ownership of property—ironically align with a Marxist critique of private property, albeit in a roundabout way.

Hopper isn’t consciously advocating for Marxism—he’s firmly rooted in libertarian ideology. However, his arguments inadvertently reflect some Marxist critiques of property and state control, even if his proposed solutions diverge from Marxist goals.

Andy Hopper’s statements make one thing abundantly clear: he doesn’t understand taxes, government, or economic theory.

His arguments aren’t grounded in reality or any coherent ideology—they’re just a mishmash of libertarian buzzwords, oversimplifications, and fearmongering designed to rile up his base.

Hopper isn’t making a principled case for tax reform. He’s angry that he must pay taxes on his million-dollar, 10-acre farm. Rather than articulating a substantive critique of property taxes or offering realistic alternatives, he parrots half-baked propaganda slogans like “we’re renting from the government” and “Karl Marx wanted this.” He doesn’t even bother to connect the dots or offer solutions that would work for the average Texan.

For example, Hopper brings up VATs as a potential alternative to property taxes, but he seems completely unaware of how regressive those taxes can be. While they might shift the tax burden from wealthy landowners like himself, they disproportionately affect low- and middle-income Texans who already spend most of their income on necessities. Hopper wants his taxes gone but doesn’t care about what happens to anyone else. It’s not about reforming the system—it’s about him keeping more money in his pocket.

Hopper isn’t fighting for Texans—he’s fighting for himself. And while it might be easy to dismiss his rhetoric as just another Republican talking point, it’s worth paying attention. Because if enough voters buy into this propaganda, it won’t just be Hopper’s million-dollar farm benefiting from tax cuts—it’ll be the entire system of public services in Texas that suffers.

Texas deserves better than this. Texans deserve leaders who understand how government works and offer real solutions—not hollow slogans.

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