(urth) Gene Wolfe Fans Talk Politics (Again)
James Wynn
crushtv at gmail.com
Tue May 19 13:01:03 PDT 2009
>>Josh said:
>> Please do explain how consensual taxation works: I am all ears.
>
>Adam responded: This one's easy.
> The government provides services I find beneficial, such as police and
> fire protection, maintained roads, public education, and so forth.
> Therefore, taxation is, at least for me, consensual.
Well, okay, Adam but if you change your mind about the cost-benefit of the
services provided, they will take it from you anyway. The obvious conclusion
is that your personal consent is irrelevant. That you have decided you like
it right now is just a happy coincidence for you.
But that's just fee for service. In tDiaF, Wolfe is talking about something
else. You don't support police, fire protection, etc. equally with your
neighbors. Most people are benefiting from those services far beyond what
they would receive if everyone paid the same percentage from their labor and
property. This is a *transfer* of wealth from one citizen to another. This
is what Wolfe is talking about when he compares socialism/welfare state with
Robin Hood.
For example, the market value of health care is established given what
people pay out of pocket, for insurance, and the amount the government
subsidizes hospitals and such. If people were told that --in order to cover
people not covered--they'll have to pay more or get decreased quality of
care, they'd never go for it. The way it is sold is that *somebody else* is
going to bear the increased costs: somebody who can "afford it." That is
certainly "theft" by many common definitions.
You can say that "Well, we live in a society, and that's just the burden
that rich people will have to bear to live in it with us. Fine. The Wall
Street Journal has an article yesterday by Art Laffer on what the response
of rich people is to that ultimatum.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124260067214828295.html
They leave.
Just as the pilgrims left when Wat set up shop in the forest.
So the arrangement is unsustainable (if increased prosperity for all is the
goal).
J.
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