Quote from: Samarkand on February 18, 2018, 01:49:00 PM

Great analogy, I will use this one for sure in future discussions (I´m out of sMerits currently, but I
hope that someone else will merit you for this beautiful analogy).

Another aphorism with regard to taxation that I really like:
"If stealing 100% of the working power of someone is called slavery...
at what percentage does it stop being slavery?".

The main difference between slavery and contribution is the choice. As long as you can choose how much you want to give it's not slavery. If the contribution is forced upon you it usually means slavery because you're working for the benefit of others.
Taxes are slavery despite the amount because if you don't pay up you'll eventually get locked up. To simplify they are willing to take away your rights for not working for them.

Quote from: Samarkand on February 18, 2018, 01:49:00 PM

Regarding the actual topic I think that these high-tax countries like Japan and France
are simply choking the growth of their economy. There is a reason why businesses thrive
in a low-tax environment and businesses relocate from high-tax countries all the time.

You are correct. If you allow people to make money they will have to use the profits to benefit the economy. They will hire people to build a house, dig a pool, buy cars, pay for fuel. They will send their kids to better schools, buy more food. They will also hire more people to work for them.