Debate Info

95
75
Yes they are theft No they are not theft
Debate Score:170
Arguments:124
Total Votes:201
More Stats

Argument Ratio

side graph
 
 Yes they are theft (66)
 
 No they are not theft (57)

Debate Creator

GuitaristDog(1997) pic



Are high taxes theft?

Yes they are theft

Side Score: 95
VS.

No they are not theft

Side Score: 75

Let's say that you find yourself surrounded by 4 homeless guys. And one of them says, "Watering this tree would benefit all of us. We need to collect a service fee in order to maintain this tree. You seem like you're able to afford a few dollars, so we'll collect it from you." Let's call this first guy the government.

The second guy then reaches into your pocket and takes a few dollars. Call him the IRS. He's much bigger than you so trying to stop him is not an option. He then gives some of the money to the third guy, some to the fourth guy, some to the first guy and keeps the rest for himself.

The third guy then waters the tree. Call him a public servant.

The fourth guy just sits there. Call him a welfare recipient.

Now, if you don't call that theft..., then I don't know the meaning of the word. ;)

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
LeRoyJames(293) Disputed
1 point

Who's doing the stealing?

337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft

The bums that took my money ;)

337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
anachronist(885) Disputed
1 point

But if you are too selfish to help other people, you have to be coerced into doing so. If everybody was as selfish as you, we'd be back in Victorian Britain again.

337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
3 points

Thats not being selfish, its called not wanting to give up your hard earned money for some who has done nothing for it. Now don't try and write me off as some un-caring asshole, I donate to charities and have volunteered at soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Some one asking for help isn't theft, but when they get the government to threaten you to make you give up your money, it is theft. It doesn't matter what the hell they do with the money either, theft is theft no matter what the stolen money is spent on.

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft

Calling someone selfish, at least in this regard, is over simplifying the problem..., but in total harmony with the liberal mindset and style of arguing (which prefers name calling over critical analysis of the problem at hand) ;)

I'm NOT against charity. I'm against FORCED charity. I believe that charity is better handled through churches and small organizations. Large organizations end up eating a lot of the charity money in administration costs. Government is the largest organization so it is the least efficient.

Also, when you enter the work force (assuming you haven't yet) you will find that getting people to do something they don't want to do is counter productive because they'll mess it up because they won't pay attention to detail because they don't want to do the job. Same with coercion (i.e. forced charity)..., people are going to rebel.

Another reason people rebel against forced charity is that the money sometimes goes towards things they would never support. For example, some of the money collected from people who are against abortions ends up indirectly supporting organizations that perform abortions.

In order to get a personal feel of what that's like, get a divorce. Your money will be garnished and used in ways you don't approve of by a person you were unable to live with. Imagine having to get up early in the morning to go to work to support a person you want out of your life.

337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft

Than a a fifth man walks over, you can't see his face because its to dark but we'll just call him The Federal Reserve. He then loans the first guy some money and the first guy is now in debt, so he asks the second guy to take more of your money. Now between having your money stolen twice and the inflation, you are almost broke.

I'm tired of high taxes, central banking and a government out of control, where the hell are Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson when you need them?

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Jolly(36) Disputed
1 point

But what about that tree? I mean, can you benefit of it in a way or is it totally useless? If it isnt, well, i wouldnt call it theft. If certain type of people were abandoned and had to survive on their own, spending money to feed some plants instead of others, probably, today, they would die because of ignorance. Of course this mechanism led to theft among countries' heads of state. But the principle is absolutely fine.

337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft

Oh, sure..., the tree can clean the air but when you're rich you can just buy a big air filter for your house and car and a really nice gas mask I'm sure. ;)

336 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
casper3912(1552) Disputed
1 point

Lets say there is something you need, water in the ground.

And by pumping it up to the surface it empties into a pool where all manner of people collect it quicker than you can, is it theft?

335 days ago | Side: No they are not theft

If I have a gun and they don't, then yes..., and I would shoot them. If they have a gun, and I don't, then no ;)

335 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
1 point

Actually the word is very well defined in law. Theft isn't a moral concept, only a legal one.

241 days ago | Side: No they are not theft

The word "theft" is very clearly defined in a dictionary. The only thing the law defines is which actions it will consider theft. ;)

241 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
4 points

Any tax is theft. Doesn't matter if it is 100% or .01%, it belongs to the person who earned it, not the government.

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft

"Government cannot make man richer, but it can make him poorer." Ludwig von Mises

Therefore, taxes are theft.

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
casper3912(1552) Disputed
1 point

are you familiar with programming?

int A =8;

int B = 2;

Redistribute(){

A = A-2;

B = B+2;

}

redistribute()

if(b > 2){

console.writeline("B is richer");

}

335 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
1 point

If B broke into A's house and stole 2 would that be theft? Than why would B getting the government to steal 2 not be theft?

334 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
1 point

I could care less about programming.

Overall, if A produces 8 and B produces 0, and B steals from A, production is lower, thus making everyone poorer except B.

333 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
1 point

Theft from the common utility? On the contrary. Taxation is justified as enhancing the common utility. There are many states that have high taxes and a good standard of living.

241 days ago | Side: No they are not theft

Alright, for some reason half of my arguments are fr "No they are not theft" when they are supposed to be "Yes they are theft" so please ignore that.

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
2 points

Strictly speaking, all taxes are theft. Unless you like paying taxes.

333 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft

All taxes are theft. If you can't prevent them from taking it, it's theft, in my opinion.

But is all theft bad? Or could it be the lesser of two evils?

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
1 point

The inequality in taxes (on a percentage basis) between different income earners is not a fair system when the deductions are not equal for all as well. I am in favor or either a flat tax, or a scaling tax, but either remove all deductions from the mix or allow them for all, but don't increase the tax rate and remove the deductions at the same time...plus adding penalties like AMT...that is just wrong!

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
1 point

WQewll, we need taxes, to fix roads, public buddings e.t.c. But at these rates, yes it is pure theft.

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
1 point

Ill say yes, but i think its more towards the middle then rather both. Look at it this way.

If your a real rich man or woman, taxes will be higher, but it wont matter because you have money to waste, so it doesnt affect as much.

If your an average person, and you are getting high taxes, its more of a theft, but the taxes are more based for average people, so it is a kind of theft, but it doesnt affect as much because they arent high taxes. :P

If your poor, you barely pay taxes, but your poor. so you need all the money you can get. So thats theft. but its not high taxes for poor people.

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
1 point

Regardless of if they're high or not, every tax is theft. The government doesn't ask for your permission to use your money, they take it. Therefore, theft.

274 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
1 point

They are all theft not only high taxes! We would be fine without taxes.

254 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
1 point

Not just high taxes, ALL TAXES! Theft is taking somebody's property without permission from the owner of the property, which is exactly what taxes are.

184 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
4 points

High taxes in them self are not theft. What is theft, is when taxes are not used to benefit society as a whole, but when this money goes to a single entity. Examples for such: Pork money projects, bridge to no where.

Supporting Evidence: Bridge to no where (en.wikipedia.org)
337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
2 points

Regarding the bridge to no where, I'v been to Ketchikan, Alaska. The bridge wasn't built for no reason, it was build because the only way out of the city was by helicopter or ferry, so it did serve a purpose.

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Thewayitis(2863) Disputed
0 points

The bridge was never built you moron, because it was deemed as pork money. What was built is a road to no where.

337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
3 points

They are no more theft than free riding off the system which gave you wealth or made it possible for you to earn it.

337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
4 points

So your saying that low taxes are "free riding" but the government forcing you to give them a share of your money isn't theft?

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
2 points

First, since the development of the economy, all humans benefited from the free ride of the system because structure is not built overtime, which means my free ride came from my parents generation, and my parents free ride came from my grandparents generation and so forth. Structure is built by capital, and capital takes labor and land. Everyone today free rides from the specialization of labor.

Second, government nor high taxes are the reason for America's great wealth or any other developed nation. Wealth is created by the accumulation of capital, which is what differentiates the developed nations from the undeveloped nations.

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
casper3912(1552) Disputed
1 point

Would america or any other developed nation would of accumulated such capital(at least as soon) without government? What about the colonies, roads, and so forth? Would they of occurred as soon or at all without government?

325 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
2 points

They are not theft. Money is an arbitrary system created by man, and creates a totalitarian system whereby how much money you have dictates how many human rights you have.

The bottom line is, if you don't want to share what you have, you are selfish. That's it. If you'd rather let someone die or starve or live in poverty so you can benefit, you are the freeloading harmful member of society.

337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
3 points

Wait, so your saying that someone who has been living on wellfare all his life isn't freeloading, but when I decide that I want to keep my money that I'm free loading? There is a line between being selfish and not wanting my money taken away by force.

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
anachronist(885) Disputed
2 points

Just because you have money, it doesn't make it "hard earned". We know, and have done, since the poverty studies conducted by the likes of Seebohm Rowntree in the 1800s, that in most cases, people who are poor are not poor through fault of their own. Conversely, most people who are rich are so through the accident of being in the right place at the right time. Explain why it is justified to allow people to have less rights simply because they didn't win the lottery of birth.

Rich people are rich because they either sell to the poor or use the poor as workers. Taking money from the rich and redistributing it amongst the poor is not stealing, because the money was stolen in the first place.

Yes, there are the scummy chavs who try and milk the system because they are too lazy to work, but they are no worse than the rich people who do just as much work and freeload off the work of those who happen to have been born into a lower class.

I'm sorry but, if you are too selfish to help other people, you have to be forced to share, otherwise we end up with a society where the poor are allowed to die on the streets, old people freeze to death in the winter, people suffering from illness aren't helped, and houses are allowed to burn whilst the owners are beaten and robbed. Just because they didn't have enough money.

337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft

If a parent has two children, and one child has a bag of sweets (because he happened to be in the kitchen at the right moment, and seized the opportunity), would it be theft if the parent made the child share the sweets? It wouldn't, it would be sharing the sweets so that both children have equal rights. You might object to me comparing citizens to children, but, not wanting to share, selfishness, and self obligation are all qualities that small children have, and hopefully will grow out of. But, as it appears, some people still don't understand why we should be forced to help others.

In our society, money IS freedom, because the amount of money you have dictates how many possessions you can own, your living conditions, how healthy you are etc. Aren't libertarians supposed to promote freedom? Surely making sure that everyone has the most freedom possible is the most libertarian thing to do?

336 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
1 point

Only if they're used for bullshit systems that filter money to morons, or are spent lavishly on the government's employees.

335 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
1 point

Theft is predicated on the idea that you owned to money to begin with. Government, however, is predicated on the idea that a percentage of your paycheck actually belongs to them due to services rendered. Basically, if you are a citizen of a country you implicitly agree to follow the laws of the land. One of these laws is that you agree that the government is entitled to a share of your earnings (meaning that the second that money is earned by you, it belongs to the government). It was not stolen because it was never yours. If you are a citizen, you implicitly agree to this. That agreement means that it is not stolen, but rather, is a contract. Now, if you do not agree to this contract anymore, it means you must get out of it and this is done by moving elsewhere and relinquishing the citizenship that binds you to this contract. If the government then came after you for your earnings (ones earned when you were no longer a citizen) then it would be stealing. Now, many may say that they never agreed to such a contract and that you were forced into it upon birth. You would be correct, but this has nothing to do with fairness. Fairness is another issue. Taxes, high or not, are not inherently theft.

331 days ago | Side: No they are not theft

Taxes are not theft. No thief would ask you for your money. A robberer or black mailer might however. That said you are free to not contribute to society and live in a luxurious, high tax prison island resort. Surely any society with high taxes has at least a nice accomodation, diet and security in prison, unlike a society with low taxes, where protestors are not treated as nicely. A robberer might take your money but he is not black mailing you with a nice stay. In the meanwhile, if you happen to discover something new about yourself you are free to leave after the sentance expires and pay high taxes instead.

274 days ago | Side: No they are not theft

The law makes a clear distinction. Taxes, even if high, aren't theft. Theft is a legal concept. There is nothing else to it. It is defined by the society in question.

241 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
0 points

Upon birth you enter a social contract with all the other humans around you who make sure rabid dogs don't eat your tender flesh. You pay back society as an adult able to, with taxes which go to all these things that make sure the next generation has the same advantages you had.

You are getting something for it. In fact, you are getting more than you paid into it. No one but Warren Buffet and a few others could afford on their own all the benefits we as a community of people allow ourselves through shared wealth.

It's a childish fucking mindset, this "dat dang o' gov'ment stealin my money!" And dangerous if too many fall for it.

337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
4 points

Sharing the wealth, alright this whole "redistributing the wealth" thing is theft. People will vote people who want keep wellfare and food stamps on a massive level, then when they are elected, taxpayers are sent the pay check and if you don't pay your property will be taken. Forcing people to share their wealth is not charity, its stealing.

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft

A contract requires that both parties agree to the stipulation. :)

337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
iamdavidh(4803) Disputed
1 point

yawn

You're free to leave. No one is keeping you inside the U.S.

Meanwhile in order to avoid hypocrisy, show what a rip off the U.S. is and stop using the roads taxes paid for.

337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Popular Debates in Politics: The role of government is to protect life and liberty only. Are "Anarcho-Communists" really anarchists? Globalism leads to an authoritarian dictatorship.



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