Post
Topic
Board Economics
Re: Is taxation theft?
by
Fortify
on 07/07/2024, 14:45:55 UTC
Morals talking time.

Surely a matter of topic that has concerned many philosophers and intellectuals. I imagine most of (genuine) Bitcoiners be like "back-to-the-landers", libertarians, with desire to be self-sufficient. However, objectively speaking, taxation is theft. It's taking someone's property without their consent, and it is compulsory. It very much fits the definition of theft, even though you can find it slightly altered in other sources, like the Cambridge dictionary ("the crime of illegally taking something that belongs to someone else")

(That's right dear reader, that was a clickbait!)

The question is rather: Is taxation justifiable theft? A necessary evil? Libertarians tend to argue that it's wrong regardless the intentions. Taking someone's property without their permission is unethical, no matter how good you want to do with it. Others, who support social contract theory, argue that it's necessary and should be seen as "voluntary obligation".

There is no right or wrong answer (un)fortunately. Feel free to speak out loud.



My stance on this is that both "groups" bring some compelling arguments on the table, in favor of their ideology. I don't know. I think there's a place where we draw the line. For example, nowadays, I think we've crossed that line (towards more government of course). I don't think we need that much government into the markets.

I also feel really stupid when I see politicians talking about taxing gains from cryptocurrencies, with phrases like "unhosted wallets", or by attacking privacy services. They talk as if privacy invasion is a requirement, or "obligation" as per the social contract theory. I think this really crosses the line.

No, taxation is not theft. If done properly it is an almost perfect way for a society to share essential costs and help support the burden of the least fortunate. It should be spent on public services, which needs to be regularly assessed for cost effectiveness, but should give a country access to greater economies of scale when supplying things to the whole population. For example a nationwide healthcare system is likely to provide much better outcomes (when it has the proper framework and institutions in place) that many separate and purely profit driven companies - at least for the average recipient of these medical services. Living in a wild west means you are less likely to trust each other and end up building walls instead of bridges between neighbors.