(urth) Gene Wolfe Fans Talk Politics (Again)
Adam Thornton
adam at io.com
Tue May 19 13:06:11 PDT 2009
On May 19, 2009, at 3:01 PM, James Wynn wrote:
>>> 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.
Let us say, rather, that my personal consent is only relevant as part
of the input to the process by which taxes are levied. In other
words, I get one vote, and my personal preferences don't trump that.
I'm reasonably happy with that as emblematic of how a democratic
society is supposed to work. And, as you say, if I don't like it, I
am free to leave.
[...]
> 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.
And yet, I see very few millionaires moving to Mogadishu.
Why do you suppose that is?
Adam
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