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At least, you can make a better argument that private property is theft (as opposed to personal property - the two are NOT synonymous) than you can regarding taxation as theft.
Taxation exists in a legal framework, so the question of whether taxation in and of itself is theft is a purely moral one, not a legal one. Thus, if you're going to make the moral argument that taxation is theft, you're going to have to say that private property rights - the right to acquire private property, that is - are a moral entitlement, or in other words, a natural right. And if that's what you believe to be the case....most cultures around the world, especially historically, might want to have a word with you about that.
There is no "State of Nature" of human morality that justifies private property rights or any other economic regime. There are only legal, political, cultural, and social conventions and arrangements that have justified the historical fact of a very small number of individuals and their legal fictions (corporations) taking by force the land, natural resources, and human labor of the world.
No, I'm not calling for Communism or Marxism or anything like that. I'm just calling for the "taxation is theft" crowd to follow their own arguments to their moral conclusions, since stating "taxation is theft" is necessarily a moral claim, and one that is seemingly non-negotiable. So go ahead - follow your moral compass on this one. You just might be surprised.
At least, you can make a better argument that private property is theft (as opposed to personal property - the two are NOT synonymous) than you can regarding taxation as theft.
Taxation exists in a legal framework, so the question of whether taxation in and of itself is theft is a purely moral one, not a legal one. Thus, if you're going to make the moral argument that taxation is theft, you're going to have to say that private property rights - the right to acquire private property, that is - are a moral entitlement, or in other words, a natural right. And if that's what you believe to be the case....most cultures around the world, especially historically, might want to have a word with you about that.
There is no "State of Nature" of human morality that justifies private property rights or any other economic regime. There are only legal, political, cultural, and social conventions and arrangements that have justified the historical fact of a very small number of individuals and their legal fictions (corporations) taking by force the land, natural resources, and human labor of the world.
No, I'm not calling for Communism or Marxism or anything like that. I'm just calling for the "taxation is theft" crowd to follow their own arguments to their moral conclusions, since stating "taxation is theft" is necessarily a moral claim, and one that is seemingly non-negotiable. So go ahead - follow your moral compass on this one. You just might be surprised.
You sound very much marxist. And as a former USSR citizen I can recognize it from 1000000 miles.
At least, you can make a better argument that private property is theft (as opposed to personal property - the two are NOT synonymous) than you can regarding taxation as theft.
Who says? You? You know that doesn’t make it true, right?
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Taxation exists in a legal framework, so the question of whether taxation in and of itself is theft is a purely moral one, not a legal one.
So is owing private property. It’s a LEGAL framework.
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Thus, if you're going to make the moral argument that taxation is theft, you're going to have to say that private property rights - the right to acquire private property, that is - are a moral entitlement, or in other words, a natural right.
That’s opinion and not a fact.
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And if that's what you believe to be the case....most cultures around the world, especially historically, might want to have a word with you about that.
There is no "State of Nature" of human morality that justifies private property rights or any other economic regime. There are only legal, political, cultural, and social conventions and arrangements that have justified the historical fact of a very small number of individuals and their legal fictions (corporations) taking by force the land, natural resources, and human labor of the world.
Who mandated a “State of Nature” to be required for ownership of private property? Who set up these fictitious rules for ownership of private property!
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No, I'm not calling for Communism or Marxism or anything like that. I'm just calling for the "taxation is theft" crowd to follow their own arguments to their moral conclusions, since stating "taxation is theft" is necessarily a moral claim, and one that is seemingly non-negotiable. So go ahead - follow your moral compass on this one. You just might be surprised.
My moral compass is fine. Be happy in renting a property that has no ownership... why are you paying rent to a non-existent owner? Is that theft too? /end sarcasm
Why does that matter? You don't know what the definition of theft is because according to you, if government does it, that's not theft. So why bother with ownership?
I only view some percentage of our taxes as theft. Basically the percentage of our taxes that are used for the sole purpose of redistribution of wealth are stolen money.
Location: Live:Downtown Phoenix, AZ/Work:Greater Los Angeles, CA
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Originally Posted by lifeexplorer
Depends on the type of taxation. Some taxes are not theft but armed robbery.
Income, property and estate taxes are armed robbery.
Consumption tax or sales tax are good and fair.
Property tax is used for two purposes.
A. To fund public schools (in certain parts of the country, like out west here; we don't have a separate school tax like back east)
B. To encourage the most productive use of the land. If there were no property tax, people would hoard land and possibly not do anything with it. And it would make housing prices tons worse than they already are, as no one would ever have an incentive to sell
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