Taxation merely a form of theft.
By John W. M. Flaherty
(Published 9/20/94, Gloucester County Times,
NJ)
Taxation or theft?
The United States Supreme Court, in an opinion about the Savings and Loan Association vs.
Topeka stated "To lay with one hand the power of the government on the property of
the citizen and with the other to bestow it upon favored individuals to aid private
fortunes is none the less a robbery because it is done under the forms of law and is
called taxation".
What is being said here? That taxation is indistinguishable from theft.
If an outlaw came up to you with a gun in his hand and asked you for your wallet, you
would probably give it to him. When the IRS asks the same, you will again most likely
submit, for if you refuse, they win send men with guns to your home and take away your
possessions and possibly even your freedom.
If the criminal described earlier assured you ala Robin Hood, that he was going to use
your money in wise and charitable ways, would you feel any less violated? What if you had
wise an charitable plans of your own which were decidedly different from his?
When Congress tells you that they have wonderful and socially responsible projects which
your money will be funding, does this alleviate the offense? If these projects were indeed
worthy of your money, should you not be allowed to send you hard earned funds directly to
them , thereby eliminating a very costly middle man?
The answer is obvious. However, the government realizes that you will not likely
voluntarily fund projects like a billion dollar stealth bomber for a non-existent threat
simply to keep Northrop from going Belly-up. The government knows that you would nor
likely volunteer money to subsidize Amtrak. These are the favored individuals and private
enterprises the Supreme Court was referring to.
These are the beneficiaries and coddlers of big government whose sloth, inefficiency, and
fraud have given us $400.00 hammers and $2000.00 toilet seats, and would have left them
bankrupt in the free market.
Prior to the 16th amendment which created the income tax, the United States had a long and
prosperous history of higher literacy rates and lower crime, all while supporting the
great immigrations of the Irish, Germans and Italians from Europe.
What has the income tax done for America besides separate you, without recourse, from the
fruits of your labor?
It has aided in the creation of the largest welfare State know to man, with some of the
highest per-capita unemployment and illiteracy rates in the free world. Is there less
crime in America due to the income tax? Has our education system become the envy of the
free world even though we throw millions of dollars at it every year? Think about it!
Big government is by its very nature inefficient. Even with the best of intentions and
most well thought out plans, government is still a leviathan which consumes all in its
path and promises far less than it delivers. It is time to aid organizations like the
Libertarian party in harpoon this leviathan and hauling it free of the waters of
Democracy.
