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And war isn't murdering people? Just because something has the backing of a government doesn't change the definition of words. You can argue who is the owner

And war isn't murdering people? Just because something has the backing of a government doesn't change the definition of words. You can argue who is the owner of the money being taxed, but you can't say something is or isn't because it's lawful.

wmt 13y ago
My ISP insists that I must allow them to steal my money on monthly basis or they would cut my Internet! Taxes are not theft, but a membership fee. Its perks are roads, fire department, schools, laws and law enforcement, protection from foreign armies and basically keeping the society together.
- Afforess 13y ago
  Except your argument makes no sense if you DONT LIVE IN AMERICA. If you pay US Taxes but live elsewhere, you are in fact getting robbed. Your local and government services are not provided by America, you get almost no representation from America, and yet you pay full taxes. Complete highway robbery.
- nnnnnande 13y ago
  If you felt that your ISP didn't give you the proclaimed service, you could always cancel your subscription and sign with another ISP. I do agree that the idea of taxation is not theft, but at what point does it become so? If you look at all those aspects that you point out, would you say that the taxes are well spent? The other issue here is that the people in question don't even live in the US, and thus don't make use of those services (and probably don't want their money to be used on foreign wars, as well. Just an educated guess).
- ahomescu1 13y ago
  If you don't like what the ISP charges you, you can cancel your Internet subscription. You're not allowed to say "well I don't drive, so I don't want to pay for roads". In addition, about 50% of the federal budget these days is Social Security+Medicare+Medicaid. Most of the things you listed are paid from local/state taxes, which are much smaller. Two thirds of the federal budget goes to pensions, welfare and military expenses. Roads, laws and law enforcement aren't where the bulk of taxes goes.
cabalamat 13y ago
> Just because something has the backing of a government doesn't change the definition of words. For some words, the government defines what they mean. This includes legal terms, such as murder or rape or theft -- all or which mean what the laws (written by the government) say what they mean.

wmt 13y ago

My ISP insists that I must allow them to steal my money on monthly basis or they would cut my Internet! Taxes are not theft, but a membership fee. Its perks are roads, fire department, schools, laws and law enforcement, protection from foreign armies and basically keeping the society together.

Afforess 13y ago
Except your argument makes no sense if you DONT LIVE IN AMERICA. If you pay US Taxes but live elsewhere, you are in fact getting robbed. Your local and government services are not provided by America, you get almost no representation from America, and yet you pay full taxes. Complete highway robbery.
nnnnnande 13y ago
If you felt that your ISP didn't give you the proclaimed service, you could always cancel your subscription and sign with another ISP. I do agree that the idea of taxation is not theft, but at what point does it become so? If you look at all those aspects that you point out, would you say that the taxes are well spent? The other issue here is that the people in question don't even live in the US, and thus don't make use of those services (and probably don't want their money to be used on foreign wars, as well. Just an educated guess).
ahomescu1 13y ago
If you don't like what the ISP charges you, you can cancel your Internet subscription. You're not allowed to say "well I don't drive, so I don't want to pay for roads". In addition, about 50% of the federal budget these days is Social Security+Medicare+Medicaid. Most of the things you listed are paid from local/state taxes, which are much smaller. Two thirds of the federal budget goes to pensions, welfare and military expenses. Roads, laws and law enforcement aren't where the bulk of taxes goes.

cabalamat 13y ago

> Just because something has the backing of a government doesn't change the definition of words. For some words, the government defines what they mean. This includes legal terms, such as murder or rape or theft -- all or which mean what the laws (written by the government) say what they mean.