Pro-liberty and anti-state are opposite sides of the same coin.
Why? The state engages in taxation, and these levies by their very nature are coercive. It doesn’t matter if government provides services in return for these taxes. Suppose I come at you with a gun, and threaten to shoot you unless you give me half of all your money. You’re an argumentative sort, and you say, “But, wait a second, this is a felony! Don’t you realize what you’re
doing? You’re committing a crime.” My reply, “Oh, sorry, I forgot. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll give you some services. Here is a paper clip.” Big deal.
The point is not that the government gives us services. The question is, is it a voluntary trade? It is anything but, as shown by the fact that if you don’t pay your taxes, you go to the hoosegow.
-Walter Block
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Anti-state is Pro-liberty
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
You can voluntarily say no and get even more services. You won't have to worry about putting a roof over your head or meals on the table while in jail. Pretty sweet deal.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Bret "Might Makes Right" Alan!
ReplyDeleteAnytime, Nikkolas "I would rather live outside than fix a leak in the roof of my house" Jakson.
ReplyDelete"The point is not that the government gives us services. The question is, is it a voluntary trade? It is anything but, as shown by the fact that if you don’t pay your taxes, you go to the hoosegow."
ReplyDelete... or the cemetery.