(07-11-2019, 03:04 PM)Caldrac Wrote:

(07-11-2019, 12:36 PM)Last42min Wrote: "All taxation is theft" is a stupid mantra. The logical progression of that thought is basically, "all government is authoritarianism," unless every single person consents to every single law or there is no government. I just have a hard time taking that argument seriously. It's great in theory, but it's no different than communism. It won't work practically, and everywhere it's been tried, it's failed. Let's walk it back a bit and say "Taxation could be theft under the right circumstances," or I'll just have to figure you live in a fantasy land where you think either everyone would get along without an authority and/or you are [BLEEP] enough to take on the rest of the world, including organized tribes who don't give a [BLEEP] about your private property.

Is "All taxation is theft" a really stupid mantra though? One of the primary reasons the Revolutionary War started was because King George III was essentially making the currency exchange between the thirteen colonies that they had established among themselves illegal and attempting to force them into using British currency, or, at least attempting to benefit off of it and therefore tax the piss out of them. Thus the phrase "No taxation without representation" was born. 

The reality today for many hard working citizens of the United States is that we're essentially working roughly three - four months a year to see apart of our annual income taken by the Government (In reality, the Federal Reserve) and trusting them to do the right thing(s) with it. Which seldom they ever do. Regardless of who is running the Country in office or whose political party has the most pull with Congress. 

For sure, a body of Government needs to be in place. It can work. And it should work. The Greeks are credited for starting it first with Democracy, etc. But even most people are skeptical today. And for good reason. When you continue to see Lobbyists sticking their fingers in everything they possibly can politically or just good old fashioned Plutocracy at work. It's hard to buy into the system. 

We're just now starting to see some honesty in the mainstream in this regard. I'll never forget when Donald Trump during his debate started pointing out each and every single one of his fellow candidates standing up there on stage with him for previously giving them out money over the years. Because that's been going on forever in this Country. 

Hopefully that trend continues.