Is taxation theft?

[Elwar]

No. It's a necessity of a civilization. A sophisticated society cannot function without taxation. People will not make voluntary donations for roads, airports, schools, etc. Simply put, without a state and taxation, there will be no polity or society. nobody but fanatics is interested in pursuing such a state of affairs, but it's nice to know that you got a home on your Politics. This place has to be good for something.

When it comes down to it. Taxes are the price we pay to live in a civilized society.

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[777Bitcoin]

It is not the taxation system that is wrong but the one that handle the funds accomulated by it. The government as a whole is for the people but because of greed and selfish officials its ruined abny state or country.

[bcnaranjo]

Taxation is theft makes sense if we have a corrupt government. It's like we are working too hard to earn the money that we paid for our taxes, but corrupt government officials are stealing our money. While we are working miserably, they enjoy the luxury of spending the people's money.

[scatha]

For the view of the citizen, the first problem taxation is that they are too high. Nobody would mind getting taxed 5% (as "should" be enough when you use your common sense). But the ongoing rates are up to 50% or even more (if you stack income tax plus VAT), and that sucks big time. So much, that one wonders why the economy is even somewhat working.

In our current fiat money systems, when the interest rate is very low, taxation is necessary to take money out of circulation to keep it rare.

On result of high taxes is, that all services done by other people who pay income taxes, become expensive, because you need to pay them and their taxes, too.
The other it's either the banks (at high interest rate), or those who borrow money (at low interest rate), who make all the profit. Sponsored by those who work hard.

<scaremongering>And since I'm into conspiracy, it's all just the governments which are out there to own you </scaremongering>

The second problem is: Usage. Do you consent on how your "elected" government uses the taxes? E.g. The wars they fight for "your convenience and security" ? And why do we still deem in necessary to keep serving masters that lie to us ?

[Elwar]

Taxation is theft makes sense if we have a corrupt government. It's like we are working too hard to earn the money that we paid for our taxes, but corrupt government officials are stealing our money. While we are working miserably, they enjoy the luxury of spending the people's money.

So true. Taking someone's money is not theft if the person is not corrupt. Good government makes it not theft. Great point!

[Saidmod]

Taxation is theft makes sense if we have a corrupt government. It's like we are working too hard to earn the money that we paid for our taxes, but corrupt government officials are stealing our money. While we are working miserably, they enjoy the luxury of spending the people's money.

So true. Taking someone's money is not theft if the person is not corrupt. Good government makes it not theft. Great point!

Thay happens only in wrong voting of candidates in a government which only wanted to be in position to steal more than money than they earned in their position and honestly my father works in a government and sometimes he said that there are some offer coming but not direct to other branch of government offering a huge money without doing nothing which cames from the peoples tax and other expences instead of spending the money to the poor. Some of the officials are too eager to earn money than to serve people.

[billoggates]

No more than it is theft for you to drive down a toll road and not pay the toll. Or utilize the water system when you didn't help build it or better yet access the internet when how much did you help build those? Even the water company and telecommunication company you pay each month to use that service more than likely didn't invest in the system you're using, they simply maintain it and are regulated not to charge you an arm & a leg to do so.

[mevmike]

The purpose of taxation is for the greater good of a nation...
But we may encounter problems on the implementation of projects wherein people's money are to be used.
We cannot deny the fact that some politician will always be taking advantage of the power given to them..
These is where theft occurs, as long this kind of people exist then there can be theft on our taxes...

[Sithara007]

No more than it is theft for you to drive down a toll road and not pay the toll.

Taxation is not similar to tolls. Toll is payable by only those who use the road. But income tax is payable by everyone, regardless of whether they are using the government services or not.

[sherlock_h]

If you are forced to pay it, it's theft. Period.

[devthedev]

Show me the terms of the contract and I'll let you know whether I consent. Otherwise, forcefully coming to my house and seizing my assets if I do not agree to them is theft.
I should not be responsible to pay for morally corrupt, wasteful and unconstitutional uses of my hard earned money, ex: PP funding.

[Sithara007]

If you are forced to pay it, it's theft. Period.

It is not theft. It is like, we are paying for a service which we don't want to purchase. Reminds me of the "take or pay" clause liked to the long-term natural gas sale contracts. We are getting the services. But no one is asking whether we need them or not.

[Elwar]

No more than it is theft for you to drive down a toll road and not pay the toll. Or utilize the water system when you didn't help build it or better yet access the internet when how much did you help build those? Even the water company and telecommunication company you pay each month to use that service more than likely didn't invest in the system you're using, they simply maintain it and are regulated not to charge you an arm & a leg to do so.

Sadly for you, you don't understand that there are some places where all of those services are private and you are not forced to pay for them.

My water company, internet company, phone company are all private companies that I don't have to use and they have competing companies so you go with the best service for you.

Everything, and yes I literally mean EVERYTHING, can be taken care of privately without the government. Open your fucking minds and realize that taking money from people under the thread of violence is a pretty shitty thing to do. Call it theft, call it extortion, call it whatever you want...it's pathetic and wrong.

Who is John Galt?


I'm out.

[devthedev]

No more than it is theft for you to drive down a toll road and not pay the toll. Or utilize the water system when you didn't help build it or better yet access the internet when how much did you help build those? Even the water company and telecommunication company you pay each month to use that service more than likely didn't invest in the system you're using, they simply maintain it and are regulated not to charge you an arm & a leg to do so.

Sadly for you, you don't understand that there are some places where all of those services are private and you are not forced to pay for them.

My water company, internet company, phone company are all private companies that I don't have to use and they have competing companies so you go with the best service for you.

Everything, and yes I literally mean EVERYTHING, can be taken care of privately without the government. Open your fucking minds and realize that taking money from people under the thread of violence is a pretty shitting thing to do. Call it theft, call it extortion, call it whatever you want...it's pathetic and wrong.

You are so right! The government sucks at everything, see these two cases in the last month illustrating massive government waste of taxpayer money.

(2 million dollar park bathroom) http://pix11.com/2017/07/06/tiny-2-million-dollar-public-bathroom-opens-in-brooklyn-park/

(Man built park stairs for $550 after $65,000 government quote) http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/07/20/canadian-man-builds-park-stairs-for-550-even-though-city-said-project-would-cost-65g.html

[ikilledcobain]

I don't know if I would consider it theft. Extortion might be a better word. As far as blatant outright theft, I'm more concerned about inflation.

[Sithara007]

You are so right! The government sucks at everything, see these two cases in the last month illustrating massive government waste of taxpayer money.

(2 million dollar park bathroom) http://pix11.com/2017/07/06/tiny-2-million-dollar-public-bathroom-opens-in-brooklyn-park/

(Man built park stairs for $550 after $65,000 government quote) http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/07/20/canadian-man-builds-park-stairs-for-550-even-though-city-said-project-would-cost-65g.html

These are just small pocket-change when compared to the trillions being spent on invading various third world nations. For example, the invasion of Iraq cost the American tax payers close to $2 trillion (till now).

[Pancho95]

It depends from which side you are looking. If you have to pay the taxes and they are very high and from the other side someone who does not pay the taxes for some reason (they have connections for example) there is no way that your money is going to be used on a good things.

[devthedev]

You are so right! The government sucks at everything, see these two cases in the last month illustrating massive government waste of taxpayer money.

(2 million dollar park bathroom) http://pix11.com/2017/07/06/tiny-2-million-dollar-public-bathroom-opens-in-brooklyn-park/

(Man built park stairs for $550 after $65,000 government quote) http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/07/20/canadian-man-builds-park-stairs-for-550-even-though-city-said-project-would-cost-65g.html

These are just small pocket-change when compared to the trillions being spent on invading various third world nations. For example, the invasion of Iraq cost the American tax payers close to $2 trillion (till now).

Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security spends vastly more than the Iraq war each year.

[lisa255]

I think that taxes are used for other purposes. Instead of improving the situation in the country, this money is used for the entertainment of rulers and for war. I believe that taxes do not need to be paid and then it will be better.

[Sithara007]

You are so right! The government sucks at everything, see these two cases in the last month illustrating massive government waste of taxpayer money.

(2 million dollar park bathroom) http://pix11.com/2017/07/06/tiny-2-million-dollar-public-bathroom-opens-in-brooklyn-park/

(Man built park stairs for $550 after $65,000 government quote) http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/07/20/canadian-man-builds-park-stairs-for-550-even-though-city-said-project-would-cost-65g.html

These are just small pocket-change when compared to the trillions being spent on invading various third world nations. For example, the invasion of Iraq cost the American tax payers close to $2 trillion (till now).

Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security spends vastly more than the Iraq war each year.

How can you even compare Medicare to war expenses? The former is a necessity. The government needs to spend some amount, in order to provide better medical facilities for the citizens. But how can you justify the war expenses?