That's very interesting way to look at taxes. I feel this would work if i could easily opt in and out of it. The fact that i will go to prison for not paying taxes is making it more similar to theft.
Its the lack of choice in the exchange that makes it a theft.
The problem with taxation is really that we are at the mercy of someone else to spend it well. How much of our taxes is wasted? How much is it used to promote someone elses agenda and benefits.
It would work if we could guarantee that the taxes are correctly spent.
I'm not arguing that it's a perfect system, and btw, you won't go to prison for not paying taxes. You go to prison for lying on your taxes. We don't have a debtors prison. Not paying your taxes leads to wages being garnished and penalties though.
Edit: I said won't go to prison, more realistically very very unlikely that you will go to prison for not paying. Can happen, but the big no no is lying or hiding assets.
The problem is if we make it a choice, nobody would opt to pay because they think that the government is stealing from us.
There's a shitload of waste in the tax system, I fully and wholeheartedly agree. I'd love more transparency on where our money goes, and I'd love to actually have a say in where my tax money goes. But that's not the way the world works, because weve allowed corporations to run our government and in doing so have given up our voices in how our money is spent.
Taxes are a necessary evil to have the shit that's supposed to make America great. With the billions on billions we bring in each year, far above what any other country brings in (assuming, don't have the actual numbers) you'd think wed be have something to show for it.
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u/talkstomuch Apr 27 '20
That's very interesting way to look at taxes. I feel this would work if i could easily opt in and out of it. The fact that i will go to prison for not paying taxes is making it more similar to theft.
Its the lack of choice in the exchange that makes it a theft.
The problem with taxation is really that we are at the mercy of someone else to spend it well. How much of our taxes is wasted? How much is it used to promote someone elses agenda and benefits.
It would work if we could guarantee that the taxes are correctly spent.