What are rights? Where do they come from? Rights are only applicable with corresponding responsibilities. Tax originated as a collective means of defence. To pay for an army. To argue that taxation is theft leaves one with the responsibility of defending their own property. This can be done individually or collectively. The only alternative to small tribes in constant conflict is a return to hunter/gathering which, while perhaps nutritionally optimal for a small number of people in a re-wilded environment, isn’t able to feed current populations. You could argue that it’s gone way beyond what was originally consented but voting used to be a right with the corresponding responsibility that all men of fighting age could be conscripted to a war when required. Sure, it’s not a perfect system and demands eternal vigilance as it can be easily corrupted. But believing that capitalism will provide a working economy and liberated citizenry is as utopian as the socialist dream.
What are rights? Where do they come from? Rights are only applicable with corresponding responsibilities. Tax originated as a collective means of defence. To pay for an army. To argue that taxation is theft leaves one with the responsibility of defending their own property. This can be done individually or collectively. The only alternative to small tribes in constant conflict is a return to hunter/gathering which, while perhaps nutritionally optimal for a small number of people in a re-wilded environment, isn’t able to feed current populations. You could argue that it’s gone way beyond what was originally consented but voting used to be a right with the corresponding responsibility that all men of fighting age could be conscripted to a war when required. Sure, it’s not a perfect system and demands eternal vigilance as it can be easily corrupted. But believing that capitalism will provide a working economy and liberated citizenry is as utopian as the socialist dream.
https://losthorizons.com/tax/taximages3/PolhemusME2023docs.pdf
https://open.substack.com/pub/wmfinch/p/do-you-want-your-money-or-not-the?r=3g15p6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web