Is taxation theft?

[freeyourmind]

Taxation is not theft. Though it's not voluntary, you still pay for it. Why?
Because it is mandatory, according to the law.

It's like a toll gate fee or a box office payment.  You pay the government for the services they give you.  It's the government's business.

You will only feel robed if and when you're not satisfied by what the government do.

Imagine if there was a company that made up laws to force you to make purchases from the company.  Then if you don't make the purchases the company forced you to, they will take their revenue and arm people, and come for you and throw you in a cage.  Some people would consider that a mob.  But that company just happens to be the government.  Just imagine if any other company tried to do that.  People would be outraged.

And when we say the word government, you probably think of this wonderful benevolent company that cares about your well being.  But it's a company that is concerned about existing.

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[Sithara007]

Yes, taxes are certainly a theft. People constantly spend their money in the course of their lives to the state, but with this money, the rulers just have fun and do not want to take care of the country.

In some countries, the tax money is carefully spent. Examples are Singapore and Switzerland. But some other countries spend most of this money in importing immigrants from the third world nations, and to invade foreign countries such as Libya and Syria.

[Guzztsar]

If the money collected from taxes is not entirely spent on infrastructure, and social advancement, then it is a theft

[L87Mou]

I mean we all need public goods to survive as a society. A road is the most common example but what about other stuff like the military and even general well-being. These must be considered because it is a wild world that we live in. Is it worth it to have a police force? It is when someone steals your car. That's a great example of a common good it's best for everyone in society so that we can hold value without fear of losing it by theft or brute force.

[Elwar]

I mean we all need public goods to survive as a society. A road is the most common example but what about other stuff like the military and even general well-being. These must be considered because it is a wild world that we live in. Is it worth it to have a police force? It is when someone steals your car. That's a great example of a common good it's best for everyone in society so that we can hold value without fear of losing it by theft or brute force.

Why do you assume that extortion is the only way to fund large projects?

Ever bought your own food to survive? Getting that food from a seed, grown, harvested, packaged, shipped, put up for sale. That's a pretty big task...feeding everyone. How does that get paid for?

[Elwar]

If someone steals your wallet, then goes and donates your money to charity...is it theft?

The act of taking your money without your consent has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with what is then done with the money. Those are TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.

[Cyberbits]

The idea of taxation as theft is a viewpoint found in a number of political philosophies. Under this view, government transgresses property rights by enforcing compulsory tax collection.

[Cyberbits]

Taxation is not theft, because citizens have agreed to pay taxes. This is part of the “social contract,” which is a kind of agreement between citizens and the government, whereby the citizens agree to pay taxes and obey the laws, in return for the government’s protection. By using government services (such as roads, schools, and police), and remaining present in the government’s territory, you indicate that you accept the social contract.

[Cyberbits]

Secondly I strongly believe that The government can’t be a thief, because it is the government that defines property rights through its laws. The government can simply make laws that say that the money you are supposed to pay in taxes isn’t really yours in the first place; it is the government’s money

[Tzadik]

Taxation is theft; and theft is taxation.

Taxation is a compulsory payment. If you do not pay, you go to jail. If you resist on your way to jail, you will be "put down".

If someone steals $2000 you hid under your bed, but leaves a fruitcake at your door before you leave, it is no less theft than if he left nothing.

The fact that stolen funds are used to build roads that you may or may not end up using does not negate the fact that the funds were stolen.

[BADecker]

Secondly I strongly believe that The government can’t be a thief, because it is the government that defines property rights through its laws. The government can simply make laws that say that the money you are supposed to pay in taxes isn’t really yours in the first place; it is the government’s money

Government does NOT define property rights through its laws. Government doesn't define any rights,

The 9th Amendment:

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Taxation wording in the Constitution limits the Government from having a pole tax... essentially a tax on income. The only reason why we have income tax is people THINK that Government has the right.

Foundational law in all the books states that if a person:
Demands a court of record trial,
And the accuser doesn't show up with some kind of damages,
And proof that you were the one who did the damages,
The accuser loses.

In federal income tax cases, the accuser is THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. If you stand as a man/woman, present in court (not represented in any way), your accuser has to be a man or woman. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is not a man or woman, can't take the oath or affirmation, can't get on the stand and speak how you hurt him into the record, can't show the harm you did to him (because there isn't any), essentially hasn't appeared in court. When he doesn't appear, you win.

In other words, income taxes are only due because people think they owe them, or because people don't know how to stand as a man or woman in court.

Set aside 6 hours and watch Karl Lentz at Johnson city, and learn a whole lot.

Karl Lentz at Johnson City Tennessee - April 16th 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN3MI70PFBw

[Elwar]

Taxation is not theft, because citizens have agreed to pay taxes. This is part of the “social contract,” which is a kind of agreement between citizens and the government, whereby the citizens agree to pay taxes and obey the laws, in return for the government’s protection. By using government services (such as roads, schools, and police), and remaining present in the government’s territory, you indicate that you accept the social contract.

I do not consent.

[Sithara007]

Taxation is not theft, because citizens have agreed to pay taxes. This is part of the “social contract,” which is a kind of agreement between citizens and the government, whereby the citizens agree to pay taxes and obey the laws, in return for the government’s protection. By using government services (such as roads, schools, and police), and remaining present in the government’s territory, you indicate that you accept the social contract.

I do not consent.

It doesn't matter whether you are consenting or not, because you are not being given a choice. That is why I argue that the taxation should be at the lowest level. It should be the villages and municipalities which collect the taxes. If someone don't want to pay taxes, then he can move to a village, where there are no taxes.

[galestorm]

Taxation is a necessity for your country's economy to continue on growing and improving, it is levied by the government and all of us citizens must pay for it , if not then there's a chance that we'll go to jail. We basically dont have a choice , so we must abide with the rules that the government has set up to avoid further consequences. Taxation isnt considered theft , we can only truly call taxation as theft if the government does it unjustly ( when they spend our tax on their personal needs )

[kissmarx]

If you feel robbed by the government, and

you hate getting taxed, it's simple, don't pay it.

And if you don't want your government to run after you, go to another country where taxes are not taken seriously.

[Elwar]

If you feel robbed by the government, and

you hate getting taxed, it's simple, don't pay it.

And if you don't want your government to run after you, go to another country where taxes are not taken seriously.

If you hate getting raped it's simple, go some place where there are no men.

[Okurkabinladin]

If you feel robbed by the government, and

you hate getting taxed, it's simple, don't pay it.

And if you don't want your government to run after you, go to another country where taxes are not taken seriously.

If you hate getting raped it's simple, go some place where there are no men.

You are very frank, here, but... Ill admit you have a point. Men are men, because they take stand for what they believe for, not because they run or cower in fear everytime stranger tries to fuck them in the ass.

Taxation, its scope and the way the raised money is used HAS TO BE under scrutiny of public, not power hungry elites.

[Elwar]

If you feel robbed by the government, and

you hate getting taxed, it's simple, don't pay it.

And if you don't want your government to run after you, go to another country where taxes are not taken seriously.

If you hate getting raped it's simple, go some place where there are no men.

You are very frank, here, but... Ill admit you have a point. Men are men, because they take stand for what they believe for, not because they run or cower in fear everytime stranger tries to fuck them in the ass.

Taxation, its scope and the way the raised money is used HAS TO BE under scrutiny of public, not power hungry elites.

Or in the age of digital currencies, the Internet and advanced technologies we can come up with something other than extortion to derive funds for public projects.

One example of many yet to be tried methods would be Dominant Assurance Contracts

Why are new methods not being tried? Because the easiest solution is to have someone pay money under threat of violence. As long as that is socially acceptable, there is no easier method.

[Elwar]

Taxation is not theft, because citizens have agreed to pay taxes. This is part of the “social contract,” which is a kind of agreement between citizens and the government, whereby the citizens agree to pay taxes and obey the laws, in return for the government’s protection. By using government services (such as roads, schools, and police), and remaining present in the government’s territory, you indicate that you accept the social contract.2

[Guzztsar]

Taxation is not theft, because citizens have agreed to pay taxes. This is part of the “social contract,” which is a kind of agreement between citizens and the government, whereby the citizens agree to pay taxes and obey the laws, in return for the government’s protection. By using government services (such as roads, schools, and police), and remaining present in the government’s territory, you indicate that you accept the social contract.

Sincerely,  it's not healthy to believe that your security and basic services depend exclusively on the state

Taxation is not theft, because citizens have agreed to pay taxes. This is part of the “social contract,” which is a kind of agreement between citizens and the government, whereby the citizens agree to pay taxes and obey the laws, in return for the government’s protection. By using government services (such as roads, schools, and police), and remaining present in the government’s territory, you indicate that you accept the social contract.2

This picture says a lot. arguing against it is going to be hard