Can anybody define taxation in a manner that does not include theft?

Brad: Can anybody define taxation in a manner that does not include theft?
Most people are skeptical when a person says that “taxation is theft,” for obvious reasons as they have somehow been conditioned to believe that it is different than theft.

Is there any possible definition of taxation that would not also apply as a definition of theft?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Return of Bite My Shiny Metal…
Nope. Taxation is nothing more than socially sanctioned theft. Taking ones property without permission is stealing.

Answer by junipero locke
Yes, when Democrats change taxes into “fees” in order to raise “revenues.”

Answer by BuffaloSoldier
Taxation is not theft at all. Theft is when something is taken away from you without your permission or will. But we all know that we get taxed, and doing so it comes back to us in many different ways. Restoring the country and its institutions in general. Even though I don’t agree with the way tax expenses are used and spent, I think it is a moral thing to do. Without taxation simply means no foundation to establish a country and restore it.

Answer by Malcolm Equis
In fairness, if you hold that to be true then that would make all Capitalism theft.

The government takes your money, and provides necessary items with it. For example, the police, the fire department, the military, roads. Granted, they do go too far sometimes; for example in welfare. But consider how bad things are when charity and government work together. Imagine now if the charities then have to do it alone.

While it is not the government’s job, do you think you could deal with what society becomes if charities try to do things on their own?

Then there is also oversight. While the SEC failed to do its job, in theory they could have stopped Bernie Madoff stealing all that money in his Ponzi scheme. If they had done as they were supposed to, a number of people would not have been cheated. So in some ways, the government is maintaining a level of Capitalism. A level that could have disintegrated into Fascism or Communism had Capitalism failed enough times to destroy our confidence in it.

I do agree with you in terms of practical reality. But the theories of taxation and government hold a definition of taxation that does NOT include theft. Again, unless you consider all Capitalism to be theft.

Answer by El Tecolote
Well, it’s a garnishment of one’s wages for the purposes of… wait a minute. No, it’s the forcible taking of one’s money… um… I’ll figure something out here…

Ah… no, ya got me. Taxation is theft. I’ll tell ya, if we did away with FICA and gradual withholding from paychecks, and everyone had to write a check for their taxes at the end of the year and actually see what they pay, things would change in a quick hurry. Besides that, when you put your money in the bank, they pay you SOME interest for its use. The government uses our money interest-free all year and nobody really complains.

Yeah, taxation is theft, pure and simple.

Answer by grannynightgown
It is impossible for taxation to be theft.

Theft, by definition, is the illegal taking of someone’s property without their consent.

Taxation is, by definition, legal, but is still the “taking of someone’s property without their consent.”

However, part of the definition matching does not make them the same. For example, I can say that humans and apes are both animals, mammals, and primates, but that does not make them the same.

Answer by whiteboi357
theres nothing wrong with being taxed my friend
it just depends for what… like social security for example
we shouldn’t have to pay for that BS if we don’t want too…
we should have the option to opt out of it..
not all of us want to fund federal agencies and programs like the CIA, FBI, IRS, EPA…
it violates the separation of powers and its not constitutional

Answer by Stonewall
I think taxation is more like extortion- give us money or we’ll throw you in prison.

Answer by hungrykong
Okay……Taxation is a Lawful procedure created by the Government to make certain that the People will contribute a part of their hard earned Stipend for purposes only they could imagine…..

Answer by Sageandscholar
Taxation is the cost of living in a particular state/country and so benefitting from the services that country/state provides.
If you don’t want to pay that amount you can go live somewhere else.
Taxation is no more theft than rent.

Answer by otto2294
income tax is not theft at all. you agree to allow the government to take a cut when you accept a job offer. dont want to pay taxes. dont work or work cash in hand jobs.

just if everyone had your attitude you can say bye to the police, fire service and decent drivable roads

Answer by #14 Chevrolet In 2009
Taxes are necessary, environmental taxes are questionable and I worked at a successful, local, service station and the state took about 1/10th of my boss’ land to build a bike trail where railroad tracks used to be. The trail’s been open for 10 year’s and his 1/10th was never touched and they won’t even sell it back. It’s atleast 100 feet from the paved trail and has a ditch seperating it. It’s full of weed’s.

Answer by Trevor H
Taxation is theft only when it comes to welfare and subsidies of basic needs.

If you study economy in the universities, the rationale for taxing is that there are a lot of productive activities that normally ordinary people just don’t do. (taking vaccines, going to schools, science researches and Development, etc )
The reason why is because the positive impact of these activities is in the Long Term, FAR future, not immediate. (and most ordinary people are short-sighted idiotic hedonists).

Therefore, the government needs to give incentives so that people engage in these activities. How ? by taxing other less productive or harmful activities ( smoke, alcohol, pollution, etc..) and give money to encourage other activities..

That being said, I am in no way support the Democrat. They put way too much money on welfare. And I mean, are people on welfare going to starve without welfare ? NO

How many Mexicans working illegally in the US ? more than 30 mils.
And as long as they are still willing to come to the US and work hard, there should be no welfare. Perhaps, all those on welfare should do the jobs that hard-working Mexicans do everyday and stop moaning!!

In my opinion, basic activities that people always do even without incentive from the government should never get be funded by tax (these include food, home.. all basic needs)

Now talking about charity and compassionate reason, we should do some welfare, but that should be very limited and entirely VOLUNTARY