Subject:
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It IS about Taxation ;-) (Was Re: (Sub|Ob)jectivity and related case studies on .debate (...or is it just about taxation :-)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Thu, 21 Dec 2000 23:48:58 GMT
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Viewed:
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235 times
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>
> Would you prefer "the forceful (when necessary) realocation of resources?"
> Theft is much shorter. It is more convenient to call it theft or even
> taxation.
>
> In what way is "theft" less subjective than "taxation?"
[...]
>
> Sometimes. What do you see when you see someone who is on the dole, and • whose
> parents were on the dole, and who doesn't bother to get their free • education
> and who cheats the food stamp system so that they get free booze?
>
> As previously stated, I have also seen people who just got in over their • heads
> and used the state to help out for a while. But even when it's that, I • don't
> think that it's good. It is still (and at best) a good end founded on an
> immoral means.
Apologies if I'm plowing old ground here, I spent a while looking for the
original source of this discussion but couldn't find it (possibly due to the
fact that I'm using an NNTP reader - does it thread in the web version?).
Assertion: "Taxation can be referred to as theft." and that "using taxation
to implement welfare is subsequently immoral".
These assertions sound, to my ears, ridiculous. Theft is the taking of
possessions without right or permission (paraphrased from dictionary.com).
Why does the government need "permission" to tax you? Isn't the "right" to
your possessions defined/upheld by laws given by the government? Although
the Old Testament states, "thou shalt not steal", does it define how to
ascertain "right of possession", and if so, does this really apply to the
tax you pay? Most biblical references I can recall involve a king (i.e.
government) making the decision as to who owns what, which leaves the
decision on tax a rather obvious one :-)
I don't think I've ever heard of an alternative to mandatory taxation that
was better morally on the most basic humanitarian grounds (let alone
downright laughable on long-term practical grounds). If someone would like
to suggest one I'd be more than willing to poke holes in it, or else
immediately forward it to as many world leaders as possible. ;-)
Cheers,
Paul
LUGNET member 164
http://www.geocities.com/doctorshnub/
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