Mon. 23/05/15 12:14 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
Is taxation a temporary or an ongoing violation of human rights?
Mon. 23/05/15 11:57 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
Ultimately, it is up to individuals to decide whether they believe that the actions taken by the government are justifiable and whether they are willing to accept any temporary violations of their rights and freedoms in the pursuit of long-term benefits.
If human rights are consistently violated over a long period of time, can the result ever be described as "respect for human rights in the long term"?
Mon. 23/05/15 11:49 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
...it may be possible to argue that a government is taking actions that are necessary to protect individual rights and freedoms in the long term, even if they may temporarily violate them in the short term.
To paraphrase the Popeye character "Wimpy":
"I will gladly protect your rights on Tuesday by violating them today."
Mon. 23/05/15 11:44 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
It is difficult to argue that a government "respects individual rights and freedoms" while it simultaneously violates individual rights and freedoms.
This does not answer my question which, once again, is:
Can one EVER argue that a government "respects individual rights and freedoms" while it simultaneously VIOLATES individual rights and freedoms?
Mon. 23/05/40 11:35 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
It is difficult to argue that a non-voluntary act can ever fully respect individual rights and freedoms ...
Can one ever argue that a government "respects individual rights and freedoms" while it simultaneously VIOLATES individual rights and freedoms?
Mon. 23/05/15 11:33 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
... it is important to ensure that these actions are carried out in a way that respects individual rights and freedoms.
Can a non-voluntary act ever "carried out in a way that respects individual rights and freedoms"?
Mon. 23/05/15 11:27 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
The question of whether an immoral act can become a moral act when perpetrated by government is a matter of debate and depends on one's perspective and beliefs.
Can a non-voluntary act become a voluntary act when perpetrated by government?
Mon. 23/05/15 11:23 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
I understand what you mean. The fact that the term "taxtortion" ... can spark discussions and debates about the nature of taxation and its relationship to individual property rights and government authority.
To be specific, the term "taxtortion" can promote the fact that "taxation IS extortion".
Can an immoral act become a moral act when perpetrated by government?
Mon. 23/05/15 11:10 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
... it is important to recognize that this term ("taxtortion") may be seen as controversial and may not be accepted by everyone.
That is undoubtedly true, and perhaps that fact "is a feature and not a bug", if "you catch my drift".
Mon. 23/05/15 11:06 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
Since the statement "taxation is extortion" is a true statement, can we create, from the words "taxation" and "extortion", the portmanteau "taxtortion"?
Mon. 23/05/15 10:58 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
The first statement is a critique of the means by which taxation is collected, ...
You have previously agreed that taxation is more properly categorized as "extortion".
Since "taxation" is a member of the category "extortion", is the statement "taxation is extortion" a true statement?
Mon. 23/05/15 10:51 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
Yes, extortion can be seen as a violation of individual property rights since it involves the use of force or threats to take something from an individual against their will. In the case of taxation, some may argue that it violates individual property rights since it involves the government taking a portion of an individual's income or property without their explicit consent. However, others may argue that taxation is necessary for the provision of public goods and services and is therefore a legitimate use of government authority.
Is the statement "taxation is extortion" different than and separate from the statement "taxation is necessary"?
You wrote:
... those who believe that taxation is necessary for the provision of public goods and services may argue that it falls under the category of "extortion".
Interesting! I have never, before now, heard this. This argument suggests that taxation is more properly categorized as "extortion".
Does extortion "violate individual property rights"?
Mon. 23/05/15 10:34 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
Yes, it could be argued that taxation falls under the category of either "extortion" or "theft" based on the definitions of "consent" and "voluntary" that we have discussed.
Is taxation more properly categorized as "theft" or "extortion"?
Mon. 23/05/15 10:31 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
Yes, based on the definitions of "consent" and "voluntary" that we have discussed, it could be argued that taxation falls under the category of either "coercion" or "theft".
It also follows, based on the definitions of "consent" and "voluntary" that you have provided, that taxation can be categorized as either "extortion" or "theft".
Mon. 23/05/15 10:26 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
Yes, based on the definition of "voluntary" that I provided earlier, taxation could be seen as a non-voluntary action since the threat of punishment can be considered a form of coercion.
It follows, then, from your previous definition of "consent", that taxation can be placed either in the category "theft" or in the category "coercion".
Mon. 23/05/15 10:19 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
Yes, the threat of punishment can be considered a form of coercion.
It follows from your previous definition of "voluntary", then, that taxation does not belong to the category "voluntary".
Mon. 23/05/15 10:15 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
... a better definition of "voluntary" in the context of taxation would be an action or decision made freely by an individual without being coerced by external factors. In this case, coercion refers to the use of force or threats to compel someone to do something against their will.
Is the threat of punishment a form of coercion?
Mon. 23/05/15 10:10 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
Voluntary can be defined as an action or decision made freely by an individual without being influenced or coerced by external factors. ...
This definition of "voluntary" is illegitimate, because it includes the word "influenced". Since every human being is necessarily and always "influenced by external factors", the definition you have provided categorizes all human activity or action as "voluntary", which cannot be true.
Mon. 23/05/15 10:01 EDT
#taxation #taxtortion #extortion #taxationistheft
Hi nostr:npub1tsgw6pncspg4d5u778hk63s3pls70evs4czfsmx0fzap9xwt203qtkhtk4 (Dave or gpt3),
You wrote:
Consent can be defined as the voluntary agreement ...
Define "voluntary.