Topic: Is taxation theft? - page 33. (Read 75960 times)

It becomes theft when if you don't pay it, you will be treated with aggression until you do, or end up in prison.

Government employees do fill their pockets, they award contracts to their friends for kickbacks, they monopolize industries, etc.  Not all the time, but it definitely does happen often enough to know the government is not benevolent.  It's a group of people trying to keep a job.  

If Mother Theresa was born because her mother was raped....would the rape be ok because it resulted in something good?

Taxation is a not theft.
The benefit of taxation is what are seeing as roads, good waters, schools and other projects Government put in place for the public except the corrupt Government.
No. Absolutely, taxation is a not a theft.

No, I don't think its theft. Tax is use to develop roads, schools and other government project for  our convenience. It only become  theft when government officials get our tax to full their pockets.

Can't put it any better than this. IMO, taxation should be decentralized. In a village, the inhabitants would have a referendum, to decide whether they want taxes or not. If they decides against the tax, then the infrastructural projects can be given to private companies. For example, you can ask someone to build a road. In return, he will be allowed to levy a toll for the first 10 years from the users.

That's like saying that rape is good if the woman has an orgasm.

Is taxation consensual? Are you forced or is it voluntary.

Plenty of things in this world are funded without force. What makes you believe everything can't be funded without force?

No.  Definitely not.  Taxation itself is not theft. Its on how the government collects and use it that makes it theft. But even with the corrupt government,  taxation is still the blood of society.  Every government services either satisfactory or not is served because of our taxes.  The roads,  schools,  safety patrols,  traffic controls,  public developments,  and etc are made possible because of tax.  I know you might think that our taxes are not going anywhere because we cant see massive development.  We cant see it because it is very subtle.  What our taxes do is maintaining what we already have and  slowly improving the community.  Our taxes,  if in good governement and handled well is very helpful in improving our lives

I was quite sad when in the last years they stopped being voluntary.

The first known system of taxation was in Ancient Egypt around 3000–2800 BC in the first dynasty of the Old Kingdom. The earliest and most widespread form of taxation was the corvée and tithe. The corvée was forced labour provided to the state by peasants too poor to pay other forms of taxation (labour in ancient Egyptian is a synonym for taxes). Records from the time document that the Pharaoh would conduct a biennial tour of the kingdom, collecting tithes from the people. Other records are granary receipts on limestone flakes and papyrus. Early taxation is also described in the Bible. In Genesis (chapter 47, verse 24 – the New International Version), it states "But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children". Joseph was telling the people of Egypt how to divide their crop, providing a portion to the Pharaoh. A share (20%) of the crop was the tax (in this case, a special rather than an ordinary tax, as it was gathered against an expected famine).

In the Persian Empire, a regulated and sustainable tax system was introduced by Darius I the Great in 500 BC; the Persian system of taxation was tailored to each Satrapy (the area ruled by a Satrap or provincial governor). At differing times, there were between 20 and 30 Satrapies in the Empire and each was assessed according to its supposed productivity. It was the responsibility of the Satrap to collect the due amount and to send it to the treasury, after deducting his expenses (the expenses and the power of deciding precisely how and from whom to raise the money in the province, offer maximum opportunity for rich pickings). The quantities demanded from the various provinces gave a vivid picture of their economic potential. For instance, Babylon was assessed for the highest amount and for a startling mixture of commodities; 1,000 silver talents and four months supply of food for the army. India, a province fabled for its gold, was to supply gold dust equal in value to the very large amount of 4,680 silver talents. Egypt was known for the wealth of its crops; it was to be the granary of the Persian Empire (and, later, of the Roman Empire) and was required to provide 120,000 measures of grain in addition to 700 talents of silver. This tax was exclusively levied on Satrapies based on their lands, productive capacity and tribute levels.

The Rosetta Stone, a tax concession issued by Ptolemy V in 196 BC and written in three languages "led to the most famous decipherment in history—the cracking of hieroglyphics".

Islamic rulers imposed jizya (a poll tax on conquered non-Muslims). In India this practice began in the 11th century.

Yes, in the last years they became a theft, it's all about money and ambition.

I chose to leave the US because I do not want to give money to a country that uses the money to fund terrorists.

Not having a choice does not change the fact that the current way of taking money to fund governments is wrong.

Precisely, my friend. In my country, basic healthcare is covered by state. Including dentistry. Regardless, if you work or are even a citizen. Foreigners will get health care too. Aswell as social insurance and shelter, if they lose roof over their heads.

BUT, blue collar workers, who make 1000 dollars a month have to pay 40% of their income to the state as a direct result and thats before youll get to value added tax and luxury tax. That is a norm in majority of central/western Europe these days.

I am not kidding.

If you are hot blooded American, who walks the way he speaks, then I have nothing but respect for you. Europeans (except for Irish and maybe British) dont have freedom do choose.

Are you saying that in your country you don't pay for your own dentist like they do in the US?

I am a big fan of necessary spending programs.

But extortion is still wrong.

Extort: to wrest or wring (money, information, etc.) from a person by violence, intimidation, or abuse of authority; obtain by force, torture, threat, or the like.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/extort


If governments were funded by rape would you still excuse it because of the necessity of government spending?

Taxes. Means by which governments finance their expenditure by imposing charges on citizens and corporate entities.

Governments use taxation to encourage or discourage certain economic decisions. For example, reduction in taxable personal (or household) income by the amount paid as interest on home mortgage loans results in greater construction activity, and generates more jobs.

Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/taxation.html


You dodged a question. I am all for you paying for your own shit. But do you? How much did you pay your tutors and how much do you pay your dentist?

It is sad that people who are actually witnessing a new way to create a currency via Bitcoin still believe that the only way for things to get funded is through the threat of imprisonment.

Taxes are a hidden kind of theft that legally obliges all citizens to pay money. But when citizens need help in trouble, the state in some countries will not even think of helping someone who for many years has been paying taxes for being thrown out.

Well I don't think that the generally idea of taxation is theft.We should all pay for public goods(such as hospitals,roads,etc.)otherwise there might be unfair for some people or even impossible to enjoy all of these kinds. However sometimes there is a mismanagement of these money and thhis is absolutely wrong and fraud.Moreover this tends people not to pay for taxes.