Free For All - The Free Liberal Blog: Taxation is Theft. Go for it!

September 2008

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Wow! Jan Helfeld’s interview with Harry Reid sure touched off a firestorm of comments. The interview and its reactions illustrate the twin dangers of radicalism and rationalization.

Taxation for the most part is theft. (Exceptions are certain user fees and externality taxes.) However, doing without taxation is truly problematic. Without taxes, we might not be able to fund an adequate military, a broad social safety net, astronomical baseball player salaries, or a helium fund for our mighty dirigible fleet.

Machiavelli provided the answer: if evil is required to accomplish a greater good, then go for it. But be honest. There is no social contract. We tax because the ends justify the means.

Or do they? For national defense I would say the answer is a strong “yes.” Without theft by our own government, we might suffer worse theft by a conqueror. Some social safety net programs might be justifiable as well. Given the choice between robbing the rich to pay for institutions and group homes or letting the severely mentally handicapped go without care, I’ll take robbing the rich. (But if I can dodge this choice through charity, then methinks charity is the better answer.)

On the other hand, I am not persuaded that the benefits of a city owned baseball stadium justify theft. Professional baseball is entertainment for people who like boring sports. Let them fund their boring pastime through ticket sales or donations. (Or better yet, let them watch chess tournaments. The players are cheaper and the action is far more intense.)

Your values may differ. If you think getting a Major League franchise in your city is so important that it justifies robbing your neighbors – including those of us who hate baseball – then go for it. Just realize that you are committing robbery to support your pastime and take moral responsibility.

And don’t be surprised when someone robs you back to pay for that mighty dirigible fleet.

Comments

OK, in one sense, most -- possibly all -- taxation is theft. Yet how many people believe taxes should be zero? Would I be going out on a limb to say "very, very few." Are those who don't say "zero" in any meaningful sense being "stolen" from? It strikes me that there is, broadly speaking, consent.

For those who do say zero, they should be offered the nonarchy pod option.

"Theft" is a loaded term, and ultimately this is a word game. Kinda fun for the dorm room, not so much for serious adult discussion...IMO, of course.

And a distraction from the real issue, as I see it, which is reducing the State to the smallest possible level.

Posted by: Robert Capozzi | April 7, 2008 07:26 AM

I have lately been debating the terms in which things like abortion should be kept in this country legal and without attack from the christian right. Roe vs. Wade defintiley comes up, and some of my libertarian friends have said that it should be a state issue. I, however, disagree on the grounds that Roe. Vs. Wade should be a state manner, it is the best possible way to keep abortion legal, and to insure everyones own personal liberty to have one(assuming you are a women). But another important thing comes up when it comes to abortion, and state funded abortion clinics. Taxation is finally invloved with this comment, because I believe it would also be complete theft if you made a citizen of this nation to pay for that under his taxes. That is why although I think R. vs. W. should be upheld in the supreme court, but individual states should be abel to give their own citizens the chance to decide whether or not to pay for it.

Posted by: Alex | April 8, 2008 11:09 PM

It is theft if my tax dollars are used to fund protection for abortion clinics.

If you want government out of the issue, then set up some morality free zones where anything goes: abortion, gladiatorial combat, car bombing, littering, abortion clinic bombing, etc. Then the government can be truly neutral and let both sides duke it out.

Posted by: Carl | April 9, 2008 09:13 AM

We pay for football stadiums, don't we? So I guess we do pay for gladiator games.

As for abortion, we need to start paying for children if we want to lessen abortion. Actually, we have started in terms of personal exemptions, earned income tax credits and the child tax credit. The problem is the amounts are insufficient and spread to to many programs. The other problem is ordinary citizens need to be accountants to get this money. Kinda stinks, doesn't it.

On Sunday, on my Blog Talk Radio show, we are talking about Abortion. I would hope that some of you will be calling.

On Tuesday, we are talking abut the Fair Tax and tax reform. Call then too. It is amazing how much more efficient talking is in getting out ideas faster.

Posted by: Michael | April 12, 2008 11:29 AM

Posted by: Michael | April 12, 2008 11:30 AM

Taxation is Theft. Go for it!

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