DOTW: Is taxation theft?

sturg33 said:
Explain this difference to me - not from a legality standpoint, but from a practical standpoint.

Situation a:
Political candidate campaigns on cutting spending. Gets elected. Once elected, decides to change course and get taxes raised in an effort to provide additional foodstamp benefits for poor individuals. Taxes get raised on each individual on a net $200 a year. Food stamp benefits increase for poor individuals.

Situation b:
Person puts a gun in a rich guy's face and demands his money. Rich guy gives him $200. Person takes that $200 and gives it to the local homeless person to buy food.
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Made me lol

You can always leave the country, or state, or town if you disagree with the tax policy. But there's a reason that the rich white folk don't flock to UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, etc. Because they love western luxuries, like cell towers, internet, highways, so on so forth that are made possible partially or entirely by taxes. If you disagree with the US tax code you're free to leave. But good luck over there.

Irony of course is that nearly all those countries I list that don't have income tax still have some form of social security which you consider robbery.
 
Just to be clear, neither meta nor zito explained the difference, which I am genuinely curious about. thethe attempted his point number 1 - but i could easily turn around and say it was a "gang of robbers" on the street.

I know you guys disagree that they are similar, I just want to know why you think those two situations aren't comparable?
 
I don't think they're similar at all. And I don't think I have to explain the difference. What you're essentially implying is that you see no benefit from taxes and that's not the case. Even people saddled with the heaviest tax burden (rich people with bad accountants) see a return on investment for their taxes. I'm sorry you can't see that they're not the same, because they can't really be further from the same. If someone steals my phone, I don't get a return on that, if someone steals my identity I dont' get a return. Everyone who pays taxes sees a benefit. Sure some folks make out in the tax game, but I'd compare taxes to capitalism before I'd compare it to theft.
 
I agree with Zito on the return of investment of taxes. I wish it were more because we dovote too much money to the poor. I suppose that would be "ok" if the wealthy people weren't given a ridiculous amount of tax breaks within the tax code and corporations actually had to pay taxes. I just don't believe in your example Sturg. I believe it isn't realistic and it doesn't recognize that every citizen has a choice to leave the country to another place with little or no taxes. We pay a price to live in the greatest country in the world. You mentioned a few weeks ago that you have a great job that you are doing well in. That job might not be available in these other countries because of the vast markets within the US. Its just the price of living here and you made the choice to live here.
 
sturg33 said:
Just to be clear, neither meta nor zito explained the difference, which I am genuinely curious about. thethe attempted his point number 1 - but i could easily turn around and say it was a "gang of robbers" on the street.

I know you guys disagree that they are similar, I just want to know why you think those two situations aren't comparable?
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The difference has already been pointed out by many people in this thread. The only reason you would still not get it is if you actively refused. And why should I bother trying to explain something to someone who has no interest in listening?

If you were being intellectually honest, this might be an interesting discussion. But literally nothing anyone could say will change your opinion, and so your question is not actually a question but a way to make yourself feel smug.
 
Metaphysicist said:
The difference has already been pointed out by many people in this thread. The only reason you would still not get it is if you actively refused. And why should I bother trying to explain something to someone who has no interest in listening?

If you were being intellectually honest, this might be an interesting discussion. But literally nothing anyone could say will change your opinion, and so your question is not actually a question but a way to make yourself feel smug.
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Seriously. What is the difference?

Zito explained an ROI. But if my taxes are going to Iraq or to foreign aid or to expanded food stamps, I'm not really seeing an ROI.

So what is the difference? I'll check back in on Monday. Go Braves~!
 
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