Sepherose Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Taxes are sadly, no matter how you spin it, a necessity. I think they could easily be a bit more equal across the board, with every individual paying the same income tax percentage, and every corporation paying a tax slightly higher than that, but getting rid of them entirely? No, it wouldn't work, as was already stated, you would end up with situations where one has to build the road in front of their house. Morally speaking, taxation inequality is wrong. As an example, if a typical working class individual must pay $0.10 for every $1 they make, white collar bob should have to do exactly the same thing. It wouldn't hurt his ability to live a damn good life, and he shouldn't get special breaks for making more money compared to the guys that clean his office. Sure, let him earn more money, he worked his way up there, usually anyway, but tax him in the same fashion. To put it bluntly, no, taxation itself is not morally wrong, or theft. Although I will agree that it borders on coercion. Taxation inequality is wrong though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quetzlsacatanango Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 (I egotistically assume the OP is directed at me :)) I never said taxation in itself was morally wrong . I said an involuntary tax is morally wrong. Big difference.An income tax is an involuntary tax.A sales tax is a voluntary tax. libertarianism is all about contracts, and grown adults entering into them of their own volition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marharth Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 (I egotistically assume the OP is directed at me :)) I never said taxation in itself was morally wrong . I said an involuntary tax is morally wrong. Big difference.An income tax is an involuntary tax.A sales tax is a voluntary tax. libertarianism is all about contracts, and grown adults entering into them of their own volition.Voluntary taxation is charity to the government, not taxation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marxist ßastard Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Make less than $8500 gross income next year and you won't have to bother with income taxes. You also might learn to appreciate how much of your current lifestyle (and earning potential) depends on tax-funded infrastructure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greywaste Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Make less than $8500 gross income next year and you won't have to bother with income taxes. You also might learn to appreciate how much of your current lifestyle (and earning potential) depends on tax-funded infrastructure. Where I live there's a beginning 8% on all income and then about another 32% on everything over $8000. And then a sales tax of 25% on most non-perishable goods (which I'm fine with). Don't join the peanut gallery either and throw the infrastructure strawman up. It could all be covered by taxes that aren't coerced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukertin Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 (edited) libertarianism is all about contracts, and grown adults entering into them of their own volition.Yep, and every resident of the USA has entered into such a contract with the State of their residence, as well as with the USA, regarding the payment of taxes and benefiting from various social services, if they don't like their implied contract they can get the f out of this country. Edited November 8, 2011 by lukertin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marxist ßastard Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Don't join the peanut gallery either and throw the infrastructure strawman up. It could all be covered by taxes that aren't coerced.But I've already said the US income tax isn't coercive. If you don't like it, go to California and work as a seasonal berry picker. You'll live off the sweat of your brow, make $8000 per year, and not have to bother with income tax. Can't hack it? You can move to a better-paying job, but 95% of such jobs wouldn't exist at all without tax-funded infrastructure – so it's only fair to give back to the system. Want more? Your earnings will come from more abstract sources, and will depend more on tax-funded government activities – so it's only fair that you give back more. The way I figure, if all that infrastructure were gone, 80% of the US GDP would disappear overnight. The taxes to fund the infrastructure take out, what, 27%? I punch those numbers into my calculator, it makes a happy face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quetzlsacatanango Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 (edited) (I egotistically assume the OP is directed at me :)) I never said taxation in itself was morally wrong . I said an involuntary tax is morally wrong. Big difference.An income tax is an involuntary tax.A sales tax is a voluntary tax. libertarianism is all about contracts, and grown adults entering into them of their own volition.Voluntary taxation is charity to the government, not taxation.Maybe, you could look at it that way if you choose. But it is by my consent. That's the important part. libertarianism is all about contracts, and grown adults entering into them of their own volition.Yep, and every resident of the USA has entered into such a contract with the State of their residence, as well as with the USA, regarding the payment of taxes and benefiting from various social services, if they don't like their implied contract they can get the f out of this country. "Love it or leave it" is the biggest crock I've ever heard, and I watched the OJ trial. Edited November 8, 2011 by Quetzlsacatanango Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pseudobio Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Taxation, like government itself, is a necessary evil. Without both, most of us would still be living in sod and log homes and using horse-drawn wagons. I say keep these two necessary evils intact. Equal taxation across the board without any tax loopholes would be nice, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukertin Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 "Love it or leave it" is the biggest crock I've ever heard, and I watched the OJ trial.Just like contract rights. Problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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