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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The law defines which actions it will consider theft and so will the individual. Or is there an objective account of the rightful owner that everyone agrees with but the law wont take into account?
241 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
There IS an objective account of the rightful owner that everyone agrees with but the law won't take into account.
241 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
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
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
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
Does stealing something make you richer ?
333 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
I'm not debating if it makes you richer or not, I'm debating if its theft or not.
333 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Cool story bro, go debate that on another thread then .
333 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
Cool story bro, look at the name of the debate then, alright.
331 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Did, but it would serve you well to look at what is being contested.
331 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
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
Production is the same, A still produces 8 irregardless of how much is stolen.
331 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
And B still produces less, money doesn't just sit around, it gets spent and used so eventually B will be back in the same spot.
331 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Depends on if it is money being produced, or if B has a use which consumes money, but generally yes. What are you contesting?
325 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
Sure, production is the same, but it doesn't change the fact that overall production is diminished due to the theft. If B would produce, everyone would be richer rather than poorer with the theft.
330 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Not necessarily, depends on the environment, with decreasing marginal returns you could see less. The optimal number of producers may be less than the total possible producers.
325 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
There is no such thing as optimal number of producers; that is purely arbitrary.
325 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
The optimal number of producers is the number which produce the most, or the most per the least consumption. As I have defined it to prove a point that production may not be highest when everyone produces. Lets say A can produce 4, and consumes 2. B consumes 1 so long as B is not working, and 2 if they are. If 2 produces, he only adds 1 to what A produces. So if A steals, total production is 4+0-2-1=1, if B produces total production is 4+1-2-2 = 1, the same. Depending on what the marginal factors are of production, it may be most profitable to have unemployed and pay to take care of them.
324 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
Actually, production is the highest when everyone is most productive. Wealth only comes from production whether service or goods, not distribution. That stupid little equation is meaningless because it ignores human action and only pertains to present consumption. It doesn't factor A's or B's time preferences in savings or future consumption. If it is most profitable to be unemployed, why does anyone produce as long as you can feed off your someone else.
324 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
... It does consider "time preferences in savings or future consumption", or do I really have to make up some model of capital accumulation and growth for you to understand the effects of marginalism on when production is the highest? I was typing about the aggregate, society as a whole. However, it is best to be unemployed and to employ others but sadly only so many people can hold those spots in society, which are ever shrinking due to various natural economic laws such as economy of scale, competition, and so on.
324 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
It does consider "time preferences in savings or future consumption Actually, no, it doesn't. Distribution or stealing is not savings or future consumption, it is merely only present consumption that has been shifted. do I really have to make up some model of capital accumulation and growth for you to understand the effects of marginalism on when production is the highest? I could less about you making up another senseless and non comprehensible example. I was typing about the aggregate, society as a whole. Congratulations. There is no fixed "PIE" in economic growth However, it is best to be unemployed and to employ others but sadly only so many people can hold those spots in society, which are ever shrinking due to various natural economic laws such as economy of scale, competition, and so on. So, the current unemployment is actually helping the economy strive. Those are not natural economic laws, the only "natural law" to the study of economics is known as "the method of praxeology.
324 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Apparently you don't realize that the example I gave was a complete little ecosystem only lacking in some dynamics, and had far more to do with production than merely distribution. Where can I find this PIE? I have no idea what your typing about. Nice straw man, I will say that unemployment helps to keep down the cost of labor, lowering inflation. Nice, instead of deriving natural laws from nature, you derive them from within your head.
324 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
Apparently you don't realize that the example I gave was a complete little ecosystem only lacking in some dynamics, and had far more to do with production than merely distribution. Actually, I understood the little ecosystem, but it had little to do with production and more about stealing and distribution, and my enthusiasm for the site is waning. Where can I find this PIE? I have no idea what your typing about. There is no fixed aggregate to what the size of an economy can grow. Nice straw man, I will say that unemployment helps to keep down the cost of labor, lowering inflation. This just may be the funniest thing that I read in some time, the idea that cost of labor is the reason for inflation. Inflation is from the expansion of the money supply while deflation is the contraction of the money supply. Nice, instead of deriving natural laws from nature, you derive them from within your head. There are natural laws that come from nature such as physics, but there is no valid economic laws
323 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
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
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
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
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
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
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
They are all theft not only high taxes! We would be fine without taxes.
254 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
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
|
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
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
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
Alright Mr.Democrat, if you think that having a bridge built so people can... well ya know, get off of a island without a long ferry ride is pork, why do't you do some research on the stimulus bills.
337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
It is pork money when only 50 people live on that island. The only one that truly benefits from these type of projects are the ones that get the kick-backs. If there was 10,000 people that lived on the island, then maybe a bridge would be feasible.
336 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
Alright Mr.Democrat, if you think that having a bridge built so people can... well ya know, get off of a island without a long ferry ride is pork, why do't you do some research on the Obama's stimulus bills.
337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
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
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
Stop using roads, schools, police, fire departments, etc. etc. etc. then you bitch about it. The U.S. has been paying the lowest tax rates in history since the bush tax cuts took effect. You sound like a spoiled child mad cause you only get to play PS3 for an hour instead of two.
337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
I didn't say ALL taxes were theft, I said over taxing is theft. Schools, roads, police and fire departments are needed, however, being taxes excessively so that the US can afford 3 wars and mass wellfare is theft.
337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
No, that means you do not like the service. Not that you are being robbed. If I buy a hamburger and don't like it, they did not steal from me, I just didn't like the hamburger that I got. You have an argument on how money is spent. You cannot argue that you are being robbed through taxes though. And you also cannot argue that taxes are higher now, because they are not despite the mass-brainwashing America has endured otherwise. I agree completely that not paying for those wars was a mistake. Especially given that at the time we had the money for them even should they have proved necessary (I'd argue they were not), thanks to Clinton's fiscally responsible stewardship of the economy. But I'd also argue that the Bush tax cuts gave the middle class and poor and extra few hundred bucks gone after a handful of trips to the grocery store as a distraction for a cut in taxes for those making millions a year that have lead to record deficits... and not a job to be had despite (wow, surprise, trickle down economics still doesn't work). The U.S. government has its inefficiencies, and a lot of them. But given the size and scope, no more /person and dollar than any corporation. I'd say from recent shenanigans on wall street, your money is better used in government than the private sector of late.
337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
Your hamburger analogy dose not apply to taxes. Why? Because if you don't buy that hamburger, the government won't come to take your property away then haul you off to jail. As for wall street and corporations, in case you didn't notice, major corporations and banks are connected to the government and play a large role in lobbying. The trickle down system works in a free market, if you think that america is in a "free market" at the moment, you'd be wrong, america is currently in a dominated and corporatized market.
337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
You bought the hamburger when you were born here, in this case. You are free to leave and stop buying the hamburger. And true. You cannot socialize corporate losses while privatizing (and exporting) corporate gains. So you support the Dodd act I take it and are planning to sweep out the republicans blocking it?
337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Well, here is the thing with Republicans and Democrats... they are the same, they are two parties controlled by the same groups of people that are played against each other for the greater good of whoever is calling the shots. As for the hamburger thing, buying it at birth (when I was obviously not able to make the choice) does not get rid of the fact that the government using violence and force as leverage to get people to is not right, going back to you saying that we have a low tax rate compared to others, well, if most of the world is doing something wrong, its still wrong. As for corporations, I suggest you watch the documentary "Corporation."
337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
1. Democrats and Republicans are only the same if you buy into some mass conspiracy of collusion. They have different donors, different policies, and enact different policies when elected every single time from social issues like abortion to whether millionairs get another tax break or we balance the budget. A quick glance at past administrations highlight the difference very clearly if not the money trail. 2. We not only have a low tax rate compared to other countries, we have the lowest tax rate in the history of the United States. The frenzy over taxes is 100% a product of manipulation, and the right wing and libertarians are apparently the easiest to manipulate if the debates here and the passion with which anyone who talks sense to you guys is downvoted is any measure. 3. I might check out the documentary. I'm certainly of the mindset corporations have way, way too much power.
337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
1. Stop saying "we have the lowest tax rates" it doesn't matter, if they are high, they are still high, it dose not matter what the rest of the world is doing + we have the highest corporate tax rate in the world. 2. If you don't understand that both parties are run by the same people, then your just as asleep as the people who think the Federal Reserve is a federal treasury. 3. You should check out the documentary, a little liberal for my taste, but it dose show alot of the problems with corporations, its on netflix if your interested.
337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
1. No. That lie is repeated 500 times a day by the crazy right. I'll continue pointing out you guys are raging against a lower tax rate than when Regan was president and not a right wing nut shed a tear. So where the taxes are going is bad? Okay, I'll have that argument. But not when it is starting from the false basis that taxes are higher now. 2. I don't buy into vast conspiracy theories and I see the difference between the effects of separate policies, which are measurable, so I'm the crazy one. I got it. 3. I will.
336 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
I don't care how low they were than and i don't care how low they are in other places, its is irrelevant, taxes are still higher than they should be, its not a "false basis", its people not wanting to be forced (at the threat of jail and property seizure) to give up this much of their money. As for the conspiracy theories, well go ahead by all means think that voting for a democrat over a republican or vice versa will really make a large difference. Sure, some of their members disagree on minor issues like gay marriage and legalization of cannabis, but when it really comes down to it, they are the same.
336 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
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
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
Actually, yes, they would have. The colonies were funded by joint stock companies, not the government.
325 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
you do realize that government issued charters and more or less nationalized "companies" such as the east indian trading company had a lot to do with colonization?
325 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
Yes, how is capital accumulated? It is saving and investing, in other words, it is using these two functions of production to create wealth. Government is consumption due to the distributive nature and unproductive factors of production. In other words, government doesn't have any assets or equity. How do we know this is true? Africa will always be poor until it starts to accumulate capital and stop big government spending.
325 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Why arbitrary call government spending just spending, instead of investing? Why call government taxing just taxing, instead of saving? Government does far more than merely redistribute money, it spends money based on need more than on profit, meaning unprofitable but needed projects can be accomplish. You will also find that the government is rather certain it's military bases are theirs, and I welcome you to try to actually stake a claim otherwise by openly bypassing security. Even if government merely redistributed money, the manner they redistribute it becomes someone elses savings, increasing what theirs would of been and affecting production, likely in such a way to benefit the politically influential(rich and nobles) Africa, well poor due to poor leadership true, is also poor due to effects of colonolization.
324 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
Government does far more than merely redistribute money, it spends money based on need more than on profit, meaning unprofitable but needed projects can be accomplish. The key word here is spends, that all government does, therefore, it is only present consumption, so it is either investing or saving. Saving and investing only comes from productivity because it involves time preferences in future consumption.
324 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
When roads increase economic activity, and thus the amount of taxes gathered, is it merely spending which built the roads or investment?
324 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
How are the roads paid for? Have you ever driven on government roads? The condition of the roads will show that roads are merely present consumption rather than production through investment.
324 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
The difference between the road being there and not being there is evidence that someone wanted to use it in the future at one point after all it had to be built, and they probably used it more than once. Your just grasping at straws now, if all you have to appeal to is such anecdotal and inconsequential things which don't apply to a great majority of roads which a good number of people drive on. Surly, you can make a better argument than that. After all, roads are infrastructure and by the nature of infrastructure are necessarily more than merely "present consumption" as if a road was an apple which disappeared after use or something not expected to be there tomorrow.
324 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
After all, roads are infrastructure and by the nature of infrastructure are necessarily more than merely "present consumption" as if a road was an apple which disappeared after use or something not expected to be there tomorrow. Of course, infrastructure is important, but the market would be much more capable of providing it due to economic calculation, which is essential to efficient production, and government doesn't engage in production, again, it is only consumption.
323 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
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
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
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
Thats a stereotype that most rich people were "in the right place at the right time" when a majority of rich people worked hard, them selling to "the poor" is not theft, if you knew anything about economics you would understand that, and they didn't use "the poor" as works, the rich employed them. And actually my money is hard earned, when you work hard at a job and get paid that makes it hard earned. SO if you think they "stole" the money, then you probably don't understand economics to well. As for calling me selfish, I just said that I donate to charities and volunteer my time at soup kitchens and homeless shelters, however, people who don't want to give up their money should not be forced to and calling everyone who doesn't believe in your socialist system of spreading the wealth around "selfish" is over simplifying the issues and shows that you likely have little understanding of economics outside of Capital by Karl Marx and msnbc. And by the way, me volunteering my time and actually helping people makes me more caring and less "selfish" than someone who is forcing people to give their money away.
337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
And every study on the poor concludes they are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. And yes, the rich employ the less rich to work for them. But the only way you can make money from workers is by paying them less than their labour is actually worth, otherwise you don't make a profit. That money you don't pay them and keep for profit, was earned by the worker for you. And when you sell whatever you are producing or providing, unless you are a company selling luxury goods, you are marketing it towards the massess, who are majoritively less rich than you. Again, the only way you can make profit is by charging them more than the product/service is worth. Therefore, your money is taken from those who are less rich in order to make you more rich. I don't follow Karl Marx, and I don't really know what msnbc is, but I'm assuming it's an American news channel probably with a "liberal" bias, or what we in Britain would call, a centrist bias. Great, you volunteer your time and money to charity. Some people don't. They have to be made to do so. Look further than the individual. There are 6 billion of us, and we have to look after eachother. Taking money by force and sharing it may violate the rights of one individual, but not sharing money violates the rights of ten more individuals.
336 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
No one should be forced to pay or work for "charity." No one has a right to money, me not sharing my money doesn't violate anyone's rights because they didn't do anything for it! Not everyone is entitle to something alright, get that into your head, if they want money they can go get it the same way I did, by working! Forcing someone to pay is extortion and forcing someone to work is slavery, so stop acting like your socialist ineptocracy is so just, because its not.
333 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
People have the right to equality, money makes people unequal because the way it is distributed is disproportionate to the work people do. There seems to be this myth that poor people are poor through their own fault. This is not so. A poor person can't just decide to get money, otherwise we'd all be rich. You seem to think that poorer people are just not working hard enough. It's the ignorance of people like you that drove poverty rates and living conditions to their worst back in Victorian Britain. Poverty studies were conducted there that showed the poor are not poor through their own fault, but because they were born in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's why Britain decided we should help each other instead of being selfish arseholes and passed the liberal reforms in the early 1900s. Since then, poverty rates have dropped, health has improved, job satisfaction has increased, and wage labour has been ended. Everyone is entitled to equal rights, or are you of the opinion that you are some kind of higher species of human? You hold outdated beliefs that are out of touch with reality, that most of Europe gave up over 100 years ago.
333 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
Yes everyone has a right to equality, but it depends on what kind of equality your for. I am for capitalist equality where everyone has an equal chance to make money, you seem to believe in socialist equality where everyone gets the same thing. Its not a myth that poor people are poor because of their own fault, you can't just decide to get rich but you can decide to work hard, get a job and get skills. Again with the equality issue and human rights, we all have the same rights, money doesn't determine out rites, so stop trying to make me sound like a nazi who thinks im superior. As for being out of touch with reality why don't you take a look at some places where these systems were implemented. Socialism doesn't bring the bottom up, it slowly tears everyone else down.
333 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
I am for capitalist equality where everyone has an equal chance to make money, you seem to believe in socialist equality where everyone gets the same thing. The only system in which everyone has the same chance to make money is socialism. Capitalism cannot work if everybody has the same chance, because capitalism depends upon exploitation. In the capitalist system, people have the right to exploit others, but in the socialist system, people have the right not to be exploited. I cannot believe you think that poor people are deliberately poor. Are you fucking serious? Words cannot describe how hard I just facepalmed. Nobody chooses to be poor, and nobody can decide to be rich. You get what comes your way. Some people are born into a rich family, so they get a big head start. Some people are born into a poor family, but an opportunity comes, like in the case of Alan Sugar, who was in the right place at the right time when he was selling electrical goods out the back of a van. However, some people don't get opportunities. Your view is that, tough luck, they have to deal with it, why should I care about other people's lives. My position is that that is simply not fair. And how is it fair, that one person can work less and have more just because they were born rich? I have been lucky in my accident of birth. I was born a white male in an average income family, in a developed country. That doesn't make me better than the homeless guy living down the road. I believe in sharing what I have, because I'm not a cunt. And yes, money does determine rights. You need money to do everything. You need money for a house, you need money for clothes, you need money for food, you need money for education, and in some countries you even need money just so people won't let you die. The amount of money you have dictates how much of all of these things you can have, and therefore dictates the amount of rights and privelidges you have. The right wing libertarian position (I assume that's your position) is that people should have the freedom to amass as many rights and privelidges as possible in the form of capital. The libertarian socialist position (my position) is that everyone should be entitled to the same level of freedom, that is, the same basic rights and privelidges. Capitalism gives freedom to the few, socialism gives freedom to the many. why don't you take a look at some places where these systems were implemented. Ok, lets take a look. Right, you've got the scandinavian countries, who are the happiest and most peaceful countries in the world. Let's have a look back through history and see. Back during the industrial revolution, in Britain, the prevailing political philosophy at the time was one of lasseiz faire capitalism, like you are advocating. The poor were seen as being poor because of their laziness or ineptness. In 1889, Charles Booth published a study of the poor living in Britain. Whilst his original intent was to show that poverty was exaggerated, and that capitalism was fine, he was shocked by what he actually found. He found that only 1% of the poor he investigated were poor because of idleness, criminality, drunkenness etc. What was also shocking was that 30% of the population (in London) were living below what he called the poverty line, that is, without enough money for essentials. These people were living in horrendous working conditions, and were paid a pittance, as in those times there was no cap on minimum wage, no holidays, and no sick pay. Businesses were allowed free reign on how far they could exploit their workers, and that is what it led to. The main factors that pushed people below the poverty line were low wages, lack of jobs, trade depressions, and old age or illness. In the later part of the 19th century, a different social reformer, Seebohm Rowntree, decided to investigate poverty in the area in which he lived, York, which unlike London was not an industrialised area with huge slums. He found that even in the respectable "middle town" of York, 27% of the populace were living below the poverty line. He also found that the same causes were to blame for poverty. The findings of social reformers like Booth and Rowntree meant that the rich upper classes could no longer ignore the fact that a third of the country were living without basic essentials, and it was not their fault. This led to the liberal reforms of the early 1900s, led by liberals (not the same as American definition of liberals, here the liberals are still right wing) like David Llloyd George. These reforms included: -Free school meals (1906) -Free medical check ups and treatment for children (1907-12) -Giving children "protected persons" status, meaning they could not be made to work, and abusing them was a criminal offence (1908) -Pensions Act, which stopped thousands of elderly people freezing to death or starving (1908) -Labour Exchanges, which were basically like job centres (1909) -National Insurance, the start of the NHS, meaning the poor no longer had to die because they didn't have enough money (1911) This also included sick pay and unemployment benefit. Since these reforms, poverty rates have dropped like a stone, health rates have shot up, and everybody is generally happier because we don't have to rely on the off chance that a charity might stop us dying or save us from being exploited by businessess. So yeah, socialism works. It brings us forwards. People like you want to drag our society back into the 1800s.
333 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
That is straight BS.. that every study on the poor concludes they are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I know you made that none sense up get the F out of here with that BS to try and justify your case.
333 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Do you literally think I made all of that up? Heard of google? Use it. This stuff is high school history. And so you're saying that it's the poor's fault they are poor? So I can safely assume the only reason you aren't a billionare is because you are too lazy to push the button which you apparently think gives people money if they only just decide to do it.
333 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
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
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
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
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
People are sharing their wealth with you in turn. You conveniently forget the part where you too are receiving more than you yourself can pay for. And spending in neither wellfare nor food stamps has increased at all per population of late.
337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
It's completely irrelevant what a thief does with the money- donates it to charity, feeds starving children, buys his ailing mother a present- it does not matter. All taxation is theft or else it would be voluntary. That is the issue we are debating: Is (high) taxation theft? No matter what your opinions are on what people should spend their money on, even if you think it would make society better, when you advocate taxation you lose your right to talk about what people should do. You're advocating violence, and once you do that it's no longer a debate. Taxation is taking someone's money without their consent. The argument for the "social contract" is absurd. I did not choose to be born, or where, and neither did you. I suppose a debate on taxation wouldn't be complete however, without someone inevitably saying "Well, if you don't like it you can leave!"
337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
It's completely irrelevant what a thief does with the money- donates it to charity, feeds starving children, buys his ailing mother a present- it does not matter. All taxation is theft or else it would be voluntary. That is the issue we are debating: Is (high) taxation theft? You are volunteering to pay taxes. If you don't work, don't buy stuff, then you can avoid taxes. To avoid hypocricy though, don't use the roads, schools, etc that tax payers have built for you. No matter what your opinions are on what people should spend their money on, even if you think it would make society better, when you advocate taxation you lose your right to talk about what people should do. You're advocating violence, and once you do that it's no longer a debate. Taxation is taking someone's money without their consent. Again, you consent when you work here and enjoy the benefits of the U.S. And you have all the choice of how the money is spent of any free society, more choice actually than many countries, because you live in a representative republic. The argument for the "social contract" is absurd. I did not choose to be born, or where, and neither did you. No, it's an accurate description, it just deflates the childish libertarian whining session so you guys don't like it. I suppose a debate on taxation wouldn't be complete however, without someone inevitably saying "Well, if you don't like it you can leave!" >< It also wouldn't be complete without selfish cry babies moaning right wing talking points that would set society back 100 years, whilst claiming not to be political and downvoting any who try to talk sense to them.
337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
I don't live in the U.S., I live in Canada. Your arguments have some serious flaws in them. Basically, you're saying that taxation is "voluntary" because you could choose not to work or buy anything and just live off of welfare (which is paid for by taxes)? Do you think that's a good argument? Somebody has to pay for welfare, and if you stop working, you're leaving someone else with the bill. Under no circumstances do I have to give up my ambition or move to another country to say that taxes are theft! I didn't choose to be born here and never agreed to the laws. Taxation is theft, no matter what I do personally. Why don't you just be honest? You think stealing people's money is fine as long as it's used for things you want. Your insults and faulty logic only prove that you don't need to use reason. As long as you have the gun, people have to listen to you. I wouldn't advocate forcing you to pay for something I wanted, so why do you feel you have that right?
336 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
No, you wouldn't have to live off welfare. You could scavenge of course. But it is voluntary, working that is. The idea that somehow magically societies would function, you'd have roads, police, that those with the most wouldn't just walk over and take advantage of those without, etc. etc. if there were not some community effort and shared wealth is childish. So, some things that taxes go toward you don't like. Okay. Some other things you do like others don't like. That's the point. The constant crying and bemoaning from libertarians and acting like you're the victim of some crime or conspiracy would be comical if there weren't so many of you dumb dumbs. Did they stop teaching kids civics at some point?
336 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
No, its not some taxes go to things I like and some go to things I don't like, its a few taxes go to stuff that is needed and most go to stuff that isn't. Libertarians aren't whining and moaning, there complaining about the direction that there country is going, standing up for the constitution and saying that they don't want to be part of society where unity and charity is forced. The option to work is optional, yes, however, it shouldn't be wellfare or work it should do something else or work. And for you information, being threatened by armed government agents when we don't want to support a cause that was forced on us is not "acting like we are victim to some crime" it is a crime.
335 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Ugh. What the average libertarian knows about the constitution or the founding of this country could fill a Dr. Seuss book. They are moaning and whining. That's all they do is moan and whine. And if there ever were a libertarian party taken seriously 90% would jump ship. Most Libertarians are the ones who love the local band while they are starving to death playing in garages, then say they sold out the second they sell a record. That's the Libertarian base. It's cool to be different is the base. You obviously actually understand and buy into the idea. It is no more or less an "American" idea than what either of the main stream parties propose though. Taxes are constitutional. Actually eliminating them would be unconstitutional. It is not "their" America, or "your" America. It is for everyone who lives here. That you don't agree with every single thing does not give you the right to live outside of the society that's allowed you the opportunity to disagree with these things. No one agrees with everything. The difference is when a Libertarian or a right wing nut doesn't agree they pout, take their ball, and go home while the rest of us compromise and accept there are going to be some things we don't like. And for you information, being threatened by armed government agents when we don't want to support a cause that was forced on us is not "acting like we are victim to some crime" it is a crime. It is a crime not to pay taxes. So you are actually the perpetrator of a crime when you do not pay taxes. You're acting like the victim, when actually you've victimized your fellow Americans who do pay taxes.
333 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
You seem to have libertarians mixed up with hipsters. Now as for them "moaning and whining" they are angry about being forced into a collectivist and socialist society. I am not saying taxes are unconstitutional, I am saying it is wrong to have excessive taxes. 2nd, I suggest you throw out the Liberal 101 book and realize that not every conservative or libertarian is a "right wing nut." Its not that there are going to be "some things we don't like" its that we are being forced to pay for your stuff and anytime anyone speaks out they are labeled a radical. I am not victimizing anyone, the jackoffs that are constantly bitching about how we need more wellfare, foodstamps and healthcare and then sending me the check are victimizing us.
333 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
1. I'm likely paying higher taxes than you. I pay higher taxes than most people. I also have my own business and while I don't employ people, I do pay other people through contracts. I probably give more to society in taxes than you do. So, instead you throw out the Conservative 101 "I'm better than you book." 2. You have no idea what a socialist society is obviously, if you call this one. This is a representative republic with a capitalist monetary system and some social programs. Fewer social programs than most first world countries. 3. No one has sent you a check for their wellfare douchebag. Get over yourself. You sound like a greedy old asshole. If you make enough to actually be paying more into society than you are getting out of it, you should be happy and comfortable and willing to help the next person who comes along. If you are not in that situation, then you are getting more out of society than you are paying into it and should quit pretending otherwise.
333 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
1. Never said I was better than you, and for someone calling everyone who disagrees with you a "right wing nut" I'd say you might wana throw out the book "I'm better than you" book. 2. I am not saying this country is socialist, however that is the direction that we are headed in, as for it being a republic that has nothing to do with socialism, socialism has to do with the economy not the government. 3. Oh really? Someone is taking a social program and not paying for it, if I'm paying taxes and my taxes go to it I am very much getting the paycheck. Get over your opinion. You sound like a thick skulled liberal who is shocked and offended to find that there are other opinions out there besides your own, if you wana give your opinion thats fine but try not to do so with your head up your ass.
333 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
1. You claim through your own hard work you are paying for other's, mine specifically in this case laziness or lack of ability or something. That was the implication of your wording, and is the implication of the mentality that anyone who does not have as much as you does not because they deserve to have less. It is an "I'm better" mentality. You are not better, nor are those with more in general better. Money is not the determining factor in either self-worth or in ability for that matter anymore. One person can work hard and make it, another just as hard and not make it. Sometimes one with less ability makes more money. 2. The gap between rich and poor is the greatest it has been in over a hundred years. Pray tell where is the shared wealth this socialism has ushered in? Spending per capita on social programs has not increased. 3. Everyone pays taxes. Sales tax. "Wellfare" is a sliver of the economic pie chart. Sure, you can think of the taxes as going to feed some kid somewhere with food stamps because it's put in a pot and split up. But what about what you get out of it? The fact is, 99.999% of the country does not pay enough in taxes to even pay for the road they drive to and from work on. So it's okay when you get something out of it. If someone else does it's socialism, their stealing, their lazy, etc, etc, etc. We all live off the work of generations before us in terms of infrastructure and more. We all, all put money into the pot. So some have less and can put less in. Some need help. But we help one another with the knowledge that they will have kids, and their kids will have kids, who all deserve an opportunity to put something in the pot. This is the right thing to do, and it makes a country stronger when we do it. You could just as easily be in a situation where you need unemployment, or food stamps, or something else. So you're no. Great, good for you. But it does not mean you inherently could not be. This is how a society goes forward. It's not socialism. You're free to start any business in the world you want and you can get as rich as the day is long with work, knowledge, and luck. You can live in a mansion the size of Rhode Island conceivably and no one is stopping you from at least trying. But understand that the society, this one, that has allowed you the opportunity to do that, deserves something in return. Other people after you deserve the chance to try to do what you did. Cutting social programs and re-writing tax code to benefit those with the most even more than it already does, give fewer and fewer people opportunity. It gives you less opportunity ultimately unless I'm talking to a billionaire.
333 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
1. Your kind of twisting my words their, I do not believe I am somehow superior to people with less money, but regardless of how little or how much they have my money is my money and their money is theirs. As for the lack of ability and laziness its doesn't always apply, but its still there. Them making the government come to me (at gun point I might add) and asking me to chip in my "fare share" is wrong, me thinking it is wrong doesn't mean I think I'm better than them. 2. With socialism I'll say it again AMERICA IS NOT SOCIALIST, but that is the direction we are headed in. 3. Yes I guess technically "everyone pays taxes" but if your living on wellfare and that money is coming from someone else your not really paying taxes are you, some of the money they gave you is just being taken back. 1/7 Americans are currently living on a form of wellfare or food stamps, don't you think that says something? As for the roads, they are needed, mass social programs are not. You keep trying to make this argument that I only want stuff for myself and if someone else gets something that I think its socialism, however let me remind you, socialism is not about the government building roads. I am not against unemployment, I think what it is right now is wrong but I am not against it, as for food stamps people (like yourself) tend to think "oh, food stamps, it must be for food only, why would anyone want to get rid of this?" well its not. Food stamps were actually... well food stamps back when FDR was around, however it is now a form of wellfare where the user is just given money. As for the argument that this society somehow allowed me to do well is bullshit, America did great because it had a free market, small government, few regulations and low taxes, NOT because of social programs. Most social programs do not give people an opportunity to do well, it just supports them (and hurts whoever they are taking the money from.) We are not socialist at the moment, but people like you are pushing for higher taxes, more social programs, bigger government and everything that comes with those things, which is socialism.
331 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Libertarians view aren't going to push us back 100 years, whats happening is that we are arguing for Capitalist Equality and you are arguing for Socialist Equality. If Libertarians win, you won't get your benefits but you still be free to do what you want. If Liberals win, we will be forced into your system. We really don't care what you guys think or say, we just don't want to be a part of it, but unfortunatly for us, if the government adopts your ways we will be forced to.
336 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
What am I getting that I can't pay for? Actually, between all taxes, IRS and inflation I'm getting less than what I work for.
337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
lmao. You libertarians and republicans are pussies. 3 downvotes without a reply? Don't like to be reminded you too are using those evil tax dollars for your own benefit huh?
337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
A contract requires that both parties agree to the stipulation. :)
337 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
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
No one is against taxes for roads, were against overly high taxes for wars, wellfare and a national debt that the government, NOT THE TAX PAYERS, caused. Speaking of leaving, why don't you leave America and go to Europe, you can go be socialist there.
337 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
I'm not the one complaining about what has made America great, our teamwork and innovation. Social programs do not equate to socialism. I'll tell you what, I'll move to one of the Scandinavian countries who score better in health, wealth, and happiness across the board thanks to better investment in education and healthcare laws that ensure actual healthcare. And you can move to one of the third world countries where everyone is out for themselves and no one invests in their people.
336 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
America was made great by its innovation, however, social programs and high taxes didn't make us great. I believe we need to fix our education system if you wana get on the topic of education, but the approach of throwing more money at it will not work. As for healthcare, everyone would have health care if they could afford it, forcing people to pay for others health care and at the same time giving the government control over the medical field is a not great. As for moving to a third world country, your having me mixed up with someone who wants poverty everywhere and money in the hands of a few, that is not what I want. I want lower taxes, less government involvement and more liberty.
336 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
I was hoping that that the libs would leave and go to one of the many lib countries like Scandinavia. I mean, conservatives need a place to live too. Why are you people trying to take over the planet ;)
336 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Its sad that Scandinavia is so liberal, if it wasn't I'd move there since its the metal capital of the world. To many post-hardcore and screamo bands here in the states.
336 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Is metal making a come back? I'm into plastics myself ;)
336 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Eh, theres more of it, but I wouldn't say its making a come back.
336 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Kevlar is pretty good too, you know ;)
336 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
I'v heard of them, not my style though, I'm more into stuff like Cannibal Corpse, In Flames, Soilwork, CHildren of Bodom, Deathklok, stuff like that.
336 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
I'm partial to Pink Floyd ;)
336 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
They're not metal, but they're pretty good. I'm not that into trippy music, unless its like "holy fuck this is the worst trip ever why did I take 30 hits of acid!" then its pretty fucking brutal.
336 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
Why should I leave? I'm not the one doing the stealing, maybe it's you who should be leaving.
184 days ago | Side: No they are not theft
I'm not stealing either. And neither are taxes stealing. That is the point. It's not about "theft" it's about people bitching and moaning constantly about how much they hate the U.S. (ie, wah, gov'ments stealin, wah).
183 days ago | Side: Yes they are theft
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