Now this is an upgrade to orphan crushing machine I can support
tbh, in this interpretation, it sounds like extortion, sort of what gangs usually do to minor business owners
tax is tax, it’s a mandatory contribution to society you morally and legally obliged to do, not a payment for not being killed
The whole libertarian argument is that the government is just the most powerful gang who goes around extorting everyone to pay taxes. If we’re not morally obligated to pay up when it’s a small gang, why does morality change when it’s a large gang?
as a person coming from a totalitarian country, I would still prefer dealing with a single gang which also has its own welfare obligations can be corrected or overthrown when needed, than several mafia-like cartels which only care about extorting money from me providing nothing to both me and the society as a whole.
governments have responsibility, too, it’s just some don’t accept it
Oh definitely. That’s the argument from pragmatism which I wholeheartedly support. At the end of the day, we need to feed and shelter ourselves and keep ourselves safe from aggression and violence.
The moral argument is a much more difficult one to tackle. Much has been written on this topic: consent of the governed, responsibility of the individual towards society and vice versa.
morality and legality barely apply to billionaires of the world. If they don’t want to play by the rules then how long can we put up with them hoarding the wealth that could save millions?
Any payment that is mandatory is definitionally extortion.
“Extortion is the act of obtaining money, property, or services from an individual or institution through coercion, threats, or intimidation.”
A contribution cannot be obligated.
“A contribution is something given or offered to help achieve a common goal or cause.“
Morality is subjective.
The Law is just a Mob that can hold power, If you had a choice you and every other individual would choose not to pay taxes up to and including your own detriment.
Not saying we would be better without law but I am saying Laws are just as immoral as any other system.
And all the good things we rely on in society don’t work unless everybody pitches in. It’s not “do I give you money Y/N”, it’s " do I give you money and get the benefits of living in society Y/N".
Or, as in some societies, only the bad parts, with the good parts forcibly stripped away.
Just remember every good thing you received from society was taken from someone else usually in the form of colonization and you are looking at it from the side of the taker not the taker.
A subscription to being alive
Guillotine avoidance subscription
Neck insurance
gotta speak a language they understand
It’s okay when my side threatens violence.
Why is passive violence never acknowledged? Wealthy people create conditions in which poor people die and are harmed. Boeing literally has planes dropping out of the sky killing hundreds, all because an executive and investors want more money and power. Their punishment, a small fine. A politician can wave away health care for millions of people resulting in death and injury… Nothing but a high five from those that decry “violence.” and don’t get me started on the oil industry… If the wealthy and powerful can indirectly kill millions with out punishment to the extreme then we don’t have a society.
Both sides have reasons that are the same, right? /s
I’m okay with any threat of violence when the threat is a very obvious joke.
Who’s joking? Because when they (the wealthy and powerful) say they’ll send your children to die in wars and to be injured working in unsafe conditions… They are not joking.
If you’re not joking, when and where are you planning to set up said guillotine?
It’s usually when people start starving.
yes, unironically. the other side is fucking billionaires, dude.
I know they’re a tiny minority, and most of these extremists are literal kids, but they sure are successful at eroding my faith in humanity.
The systematic oppression of everyone without wealth didn’t erode your faith in humanity but a couple people suggesting we kill our masters did? Well, at least you’ve got the moral high ground
Systemic oppression of everyone without wealth?
Haven’t noticed the skyrocketing wealth gap, eh? Costs going up for us while profits go up for them? Government policies that benefit them at our expense? Laws that don’t seem to apply to people with money? Maybe I’m the crazy one
You’re describing the sympoms. I was asking about the cause. “Systemic oppression of anyone without wealth” is quite a bold claim.
The cause is literally wealth hoarding. By those being recommended to the guillotine. They didn’t happen by accident.
You’re being quite vague. What is wealth hoarding? Is Elon Musk the richest man in the world because he’s hoarding wealth?
People like you are why I no longer wonder where evil movie villains find all those faceless henchmen.
You will never be one of them. No matter how nice you are to them they will treat you the same as anyone else they see as inferior.