Is taxation theft?

Question

Is taxation theft?

SirRexington · Accepted Answer

Oh boy, high school libertarian utopianism. Taxes are not theft. They are part of a social contract that binds us through cooperation, cohesion and community values. Are you a patriot? A nationalist? Congrats. You should support taxes. Love the police? The military? The fire department? Social security? Medicare? You support taxes.

In a capitalist society taxes are needed to provide for public services. Unless you're against public services. In which case you can take your primitive, woodman self into the wild away from civilization and never return.

Taxes are not inherently bad. The amount of taxation isn't either believe it or not. What matters is what they go towards. If we can actually get a government that works for US and not the big companies (who need to be taxed more) then we will actually see services being provided to us. Other countries have higher taxes than us but do better than us on almost all measures including entrepreneurship.

Let's not believe in the near anarcho-capitalist nonsense many are spewing. I used to. I was there. I've said everything that everyone else has said in the comments. Problem is, I'm not in highschool anymore. Im in the real world. I understand society better and how civilizations function. And also, don't like taxes? Become a socialist. Socialism doesn't need taxes. Why? Because in socialism everything is socially owned. And if that's the case then the need for taxes ceases to exist.

hellionthesagereborn · Accepted Answer

Taxation is not theft, its the payment of goods and services rendered for living in the society. Unreasonable taxation however is absolutely and always will be theft. So if you use a road you should pay for it, you use utilities you should pay for it, if you use police to protect your home and community, you should pay for it. Claiming that these services rendered do not deserve payment is no different then socialism i. e. you are taking some one elses work without justifiable compensation. Now if your living out in the woods and do not use any of these resources then you have every right to not pay taxes, but if your living in the society and using these resources then you have to pay for peoples labor.

That said, if those tax dollars are going to things you are not using, like welfare, then that is absolutely theft. If its being used for something you do not agree with and don't want to pay for (like private organizations getting bail outs or businesses like planned parenthood getting money even though you disagree with what they do) but they take your money and use it for that anyway, then that is also theft.

ChgzDaniel · Accepted Answer

Taxes go towards paying a fat government that doesn't care about the country, the destruction of buildings to replace them with ugly glass structures, police officers to sit on their ass all day long and fix roads that only ever seem to get worse. Basically, I can't do anything without paying for things I don't want or need. Hell yes it's theft, and life would be much better without it!

jeemm · Accepted Answer

I personally feel like it's not theft.

Why? Taxation is an important source of revenue to keep most governments running. Without it they'd have to rely on other means which depending on the country might not be achievable.

Bananaman177 · Answer

It would be different if the taxation came with some representation, but just like in the Revolutionary days, they takes our money and spend it on shit we would NEVER agree to spend it on if we had any say. They claim it's for roads, but all the roads have potholes and all of our infrastructure is crumbling. So where's the money really going? Weapons for our enemies, and foreign aid for countries that hate our fucking guts. We give 38 billion a year to Israel and they literally hate us more than they hate Nazi Germany.

Thatsamazing · Answer

Well, if you're stupid, the answer is yes, and if you're not stupid, the answer is no. Apparently anyone answering "yes" has never graduated from the fourth grade, where your teacher talked about the Boston Tea Party and hammered the refrain of "no taxation without representation" into you. As in, yes, taxation *without representation* (you know, those things called Representatives and Senators that you vote for in Congress, and in your particular state) is theft. But since we do vote for our representatives, it's not. The reason this idiotic message exists now is simply because Americans are *lazy and stupid,* and don't feel like getting involved in "politics," whatever that means, and would rather complain about their representation than fix it or get involved in it.

LordOfTheFries · Answer

Sure, if you held me at gunpoint, demanded $20, then went out to buy me my favorite icecream, you still robbed me.

And it's too bad we can't choose where our contributions go. I don't like having to fund a global military when the U. S. should be a hermit country.

Rabbit_Hole · Answer

Taxation is theft. Period. Some people don't have the intellect to scale down the concept and see it for what it is. The only focus on what they THINK it is primarily used for... Muh rOAds. When it's mostly used for (BLACK BUDGET PROGRAMS, BILLION DOLLAR SLUSH FUNDS (Red Cross,) INDOCTRINATION OF CHILDREN TO PREVENT THEM FROM THINKING FOR THEMSELVES, and of course... WAR!!!)

FakeName123 · Answer

No, it isn't per se. Essentially the government is a business that has governing outsources by the population. Thus the population pays the government in return of getting something in return (governing, building infrastructure, etc).

The problem arises when the taxes are increased to a point that it's not worth the payoff anymore.

SomeGUYonGAG · Answer

No it goes towards keeping the society I live in functioning, like funding police, firefighters, medical care, infrastructure, military, etc. Sure there's a lot of things that tax dollars go to that I don't agree with, but I'd rather pay taxes than to drive over a crumbling bridge and hope it doesn't collapse because the road work wasn't funded or have to take the law into my own hands because we can't pay for police to do it.

Anonymous · Answer

It is when you have a system of democracy where everyone can vote even the people Paying no taxes at all other than taxes on money they were given.

Why should someone on welfare get to vote for more welfare for themselves and higher taxes on me when I'm the one paying the bills. That is that if you have only the people paying the bills voting then it's not but currently with our system of democracy taxation is theft

ZeussLightningBolt · Answer

Kind of.
Honestly, I think people who don't want to pay taxes, shouldn't have to.
Just put them on record, and provide any services for them that are funded through tax payer money.
I've only had to call an ambulance once in my life and STILL got charged for it. And I've never needed to call the fire department. Why should I pay for services I don't use?

Aiko_E_Lara · Answer

No. Taxation itself is not a thief. You are all living in a society with public services like the roads you use, streets you walk on to, public restrooms and etc. You aren't so free to go anywhere if everything is private. However corruption is theft. Not taxation itself.

egarcia1360 · Answer

It is the forceful taking of property from non-consenting individuals, isn't it? Wrapping it up with a pretty bow and letting us "choose" which tyrant gets to spend our money for us every few years doesn't stop it being theft.

BrexitAteMyLobster · Answer

It is not theft, no. The money is not taken by deception and/or without our knowledge. If you could liken it to a crime it would be extortion, not theft.

Jjpayne · Answer

It's a necessary means for our society to function... It may not always used for our best interests but it's an important part of budgeting for cities and states...

Texaskid1 · Answer

Some of the comments below are interesting. Most seem to believe that taxation is theft and should be eliminated. But I bet they all use public services and infrastructure not to mention the tremendous number of services provided by the government.

winterfox10 · Answer

Taxes pay for all kinds of things that make your daily life possible. It's true that taxes also pay government salaries and pensions and stuff, but they mostly fund the support structure needed to maintain daily life.

Hannah591 · Answer

So how do people expect the country to run without any payments? Unless everyone wants to chip in to maintain society, taxes are important.

reptocarl · Answer

Some think it is theft but I look at it as more a forced purchase. They’re forcing you to buy military defense, paved roads, water, sewer, trash removal, all kinds of programs, public schools etc

Liam_Hayden · Answer

I suppose a case could be made that a tax on non-essentials is voluntary, but the income tax on labor is most certainly theft. In fact it's slavery - You are essentially required to work for free for several months.

CocoBat · Answer

It's not that big a deal, it's the way you pay for your health care, school and a better society, unless you're American... hahahha...

Games_ · Answer

Nope. If ur making money, you need to give back. stop being greedy. Athletes need to be taxed like crazy because they obviously aren't taxed enough, making 10 million off one game. The hell

Philyouup · Answer

you have representation in your government, elected people that represent you, in the USA it’s codified in the constitution as law. so no theft. No country /Government can run without taxes.

cth96190 · Answer

Taxation is extortion. If you doubt that, try not paying and see what happens to you.

John_Doesnt · Answer

Everyone knows the military is paid for with candy sales and the fire department earns money with a topless carwash.

kingofthellamas · Answer

Not if you want roads to drive on, police to keep you safe, parks to run in, you rubbish picked up etc.

Timelesswisdom · Answer

Tax on fiat dollars is not theft, tax on real goods, precious metals, vehicles, real estate, labor and "carbon" is treasonous armed robbery.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

From its basic idea it's fair and square. But the way it is commonly organised has become something between 'highway robbery' and -indeed- theft.

GreatnessBack · Answer

Yes it is, but it's the nice kind of theft where the gov't makes you feel good about it. It's like getting a reach around, while getting fucked in the ass.

Shamalien · Answer

In a world where female voters understand the truth about what taxation is more than men... only on g@g ! This is why I love this place! So many smart women!

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Only fools think so. Taxes are needed to fund important social programs, to built and maintain a country, city, military, fire department, public schools etc.

Avicenna · Answer

If its extortionate, it definitely is and if it's redistributed unfairly it is as well.

Unit1 · Answer

Considering the governments do the worst job at managing the budgets in order to maintain society I say it has practically become (legal) theft.

EnglundUberAlles · Answer

In theory if you live in a democracy you voted to pay taxes, so no. If you don't live in a democracy it's more like a protection racket.

MrMilti · Answer

But how do you want to pay for "free" college and "free" healthcare? 😂😂

StickStickity13 · Answer

It's necessary, who is going to pay for roads, military, infrastructure, police?

CaptainSmartass · Answer

It's theft. Don't raise taxes, just scrap Foreign aid and privatise the Ministry of Justice. Simples...

SandaP · Answer

I think taxation is theft until i get the choise where my taxation money goes. I dont wanna pay taxes for stupid shit like shitty artwork on a roundabout.

DiscomfortZone · Answer

Claiming taxation is theft is a new high of entitlement. Pathetic.

Pipeliner87 · Answer

It's a nice way of saying, we will take your money and give it to another country.

Anonymous · Answer

Nah, someone has to pay for the police, transport infrastructure, military, government and the health system. What is wrong is taxation without representation - most immigrants have to pay taxes but can't vote.

mrkdvsn · Answer

Income taxation is theft, and being taxed more than once for something is theft. A properly adjusted retail sales tax would be fine.

Antelope · Answer

It kind of is lol. There's not really a choice in the matter.

OfDeath · Answer

It's a form of extortion. Kind of like government racketeering.

OddBeMe · Answer

No. Bc you need to pay for roads and police. Or do you not want them?

Anonymous · Answer

Taxes are taken from the populace by coercion. If that’s not theft, I don’t know what is.

FreyaRed · Answer

It's not theft it's robbery

Anonymous · Answer

I only clicked not theft because it's required by law. Otherwise, yeah. Theft.

talloak · Answer

Is stupidity voluntary?

jgokgotit · Answer

Yes and it is misused

humanearth · Answer

It sure feels like it

Taylor_C · Answer

Taxation is THEFT

Iamagoodguy · Answer

Only if you use 0 of anything that it pays for

Lotusinwater · Answer

Not all taxes are theft just income taxes I think

Exorcist_Rampage · Answer

Yes but the government doesn't care.

Tim-loves-it · Answer

If its over a certain percent, yes

alice55 · Answer

Taxation is theft

BronzedAdonis · Answer

yes it is

Joker_ · Answer

Taxation is taxation

Is taxation theft?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said