I- tax- tax mo!

TAXATION (from “tax,” derived, through the French, from Lat. taxare, to appraise, which again is connected with the same root as tangere, to touch), that part of the revenue of a state which is obtained by compulsory dues and charges upon its subjects.)

Like many who consider themselves libertarians, I have concluded that taxation, in any form for any purpose, is theft. I agree with the nineteenth-century economist Frederic Bastiat, who called it legal plunder. It ought to be abolished.

Enduring my stance with regards to this matter, people invariably jump to the conclusion that I am an anarchist who would do away with government and the rule of law. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I am not against the government. I believe that it is essential to protect us from violent and antisocial intimates and to provide a means by which people can resolve their disputes. I am simply against forcing anyone to pay for these important functions.

Like many other important things in life that can only be obtained from other people, or in cooperation with others, government — that is, good government — can be “purchased.” It can readily be attained without force, just as food, shelter and clothing are procured without depriving our neighbours. Just because I do not steal from others to get food, does not mean that I am against eating.

If government was financed by voluntary subscription instead of taxation, people would have as much government as they were willing to pay for. Then and only then could it truly be said that people have gotten the government they ought to have.

Moreover, there is little doubt that most people would voluntarily pay to have government ensure a peaceful and safe society. Why? It’s because most people consider this as important. People do not need to be coerced into supporting churches because they consider religion important. There is every reason to believe that the same would be true with respect to government.

There are many grounds to overcome our dependence on force payment to government, not the least of which is economics. The imposing cost of taxation negates any advantages of this method of funding.

Many people who favour constitutional limits on taxation fear that abolition of taxation would jeopardize national security. But just wars can be successfully waged without resort to taxation. Our war of independence proved that, conclusively. There is a nexus between war and taxes. There is a nexus between escalating violence in our society and the violence of taxation to finance the escalating cost of government. The common thread is force. The epitome of illiberal hypocrisy is to denominate oneself a peacemaker without opposing taxation. It does not matter whether the taxes are to pay for guns or butter, taxes amount to the initiation of force in human affairs, which results in all sorts of violent reactions.

Taxation can be defended on neither moral nor pragmatic grounds. Constitutionally limited government, voluntarily funded, will ultimately result in the most moral, peaceful, and free society in history.