Or at minimum, the current US taxation system is based entirely on extortion.
Extortion is generally defined as the practice of obtaining something by the threat or use of force.
For most Americans, paying taxes is accepted as an unpleasant but necessary part of life. For many, there’s actually a mistaken sense of pride and duty that goes along with it. However, taxation is far from a virtuous practice. Taxpayers do not pay taxes because they want to hand money freely over to a government entity; they pay taxes because they are in absolute fear of the harsh consequences they’d face for nonpayment.
Taxation is a commandment to pay, with severe punishment for noncompliance. This punishment includes imprisonment, which is clearly an act of force against the individual. When a person receives such a command along with a threat of violence, their obedient compliance is in no way an act of virtue. Acting out of virtue requires no threats.
September 27, 2018 @ 5:14 pm
Or at minimum, the current US taxation system is based entirely on extortion.
Extortion is generally defined as the practice of obtaining something by the threat or use of force.
For most Americans, paying taxes is accepted as an unpleasant but necessary part of life. For many, there’s actually a mistaken sense of pride and duty that goes along with it. However, taxation is far from a virtuous practice. Taxpayers do not pay taxes because they want to hand money freely over to a government entity; they pay taxes because they are in absolute fear of the harsh consequences they’d face for nonpayment.
Taxation is a commandment to pay, with severe punishment for noncompliance. This punishment includes imprisonment, which is clearly an act of force against the individual. When a person receives such a command along with a threat of violence, their obedient compliance is in no way an act of virtue. Acting out of virtue requires no threats.