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Historically taxes were (and theoretically still should be) collected to finance the government (and, during a war, the military) and not for the redistribution
by Koshkin 6y ago
Historically taxes were (and theoretically still should be) collected to finance the government (and, during a war, the military) and not for the redistribution of wealth. Socialism is a different theory, of course...
- rsynnott 6y agoThe concept of free schooling emerged before socialism, and would not generally be thought of as socialist (or redistributive) by most people.
- ben_w 6y agoReally? If I remember correctly it was mentioned in The Communist Manifesto.
- rsynnott 6y agoNoted Communist Thomas Jefferson proposed it rather before the Communist Manifesto was written (not that he came up with the idea, of course), and some US states and various other places started introducing it from the early 19th century on. Just because Marx was in favour of something doesn’t necessarily make it inherently socialist.
- teclordphrack2 6y agoBut something can be socialist even if it came about before the idea of socialism was put forth. Remote villages have lived in communistic systems but have no idea about the concept of communism.
- rsynnott 6y agoAre you using ‘socialism’ to mean ‘doing anything for the common good’? I mean, free education seems completely orthogonal to socialism as normally defined.
- teclordphrack2 6y agoHow so? Please give me your definition of socialism and reasoning for calling it "orthogonal" to free education.
- herbstein 6y agoNot the OP, but Socialism is generally concerned with democratic ownership of the means of production.
- mamon 6y agoLike stock options for employees?
- ben_w 6y agoOnly if the company doesn’t have any other shareholders. I think John Lewis is run like that? Devil is in the details, and I’ve never had reason to look closely in their case: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lewis_Partnership https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lewis_Partnership
- ben_w 6y agoI would argue that “things in the Communist Manifesto” defines communism, in the same way that “things in the Bible” defines Christianity even though some (lots?) of the Bible originated in Judaism. That said, I was asking for an example of the concept of free schooling from before socialism, and I got it :)
- kennywinker 6y agoHistorically taxes were (and theoretically still should be) to fund the lifestyles of the king, the king's family and the nobility. America was founded on breaking from traditions to try new ideas (a government for the people by the people), but somewhere along the way y'all stopped innovating and started resisting all change. Redistribution of wealth fits perfectly into "gov for the people by the people". The many benefiting from the work of the many.
- giancarlostoro 6y agoIt is the wealthy and above average earners that already pay most of the taxes in America and some disagree with where the government is spending funds and even what they are taxing (one of the primary causes of our Civil War mind you). Redistribution of wealth has been tried in countries like Venezuela and many places but it collapses eventually when you have a single point of failure. Hell theres Social Security which got basically ruined by the government. Any kind of redistribution would need to be at the full discretion of local governments instead of a federal body. The amount of power our federal government has amassed itself would make the founding fathers roll over in their graves, or pick up their musquets and revolt.
- mint2 6y ago> one of the primary causes of our Civil War mind you Yeah don’t mention slavery. Everything else was a big second. And cherry pick some extreme examples.
- giancarlostoro 6y agoI wasn't trying to list out all the causes of the civil war, it wasn't topical when discussing taxes. I didn't say it was "THE" cause.