Thread by @LibertyCappy

We are going to address the topic of "Taxation is Theft"

*is Taxation theft?
* if so, why?
* why does the Liberty community believe this?
* What are Natural Rights?
* Is something Voluntary better than Coercion?

- A Thread 🧵

Imagine working hard for 30, 40, 50, or even 100 hours a week. Then the government decides they can take a portion of your earnings away without your consent.

Doesn't that sound a lot like theft? 🤔

"But we get services in return!", some say. But what if you're paying for services you don't use or agree with?

Shouldn't you have a CHOICE in where your hard-earned money goes? Why should an anti-war individual fund wars? Why should someone who is pro-legalization support the drug-war?

We don't disagree with the need for communal projects but imagine if these were funded VOLUNTARILY.

People might support what they truly believe in, leading to a more efficient allocation of resources.

The alternative is coercion. How is a system based on coercion more moral than a system based on voluntary interactions?

Taxation is also a one-size-fits-all solution. It doesn’t consider individual circumstances. A flat rate might be too much for one person & a mere drop for another. Fair? We think not. ⚖️

It also presupposes that someone is entitled to take from you because a majority of people agree with them. This abuse of the minority from the majority has many historical examples proving it is unethical. Often deadly.

What are natural rights? These are the inalienable rights that people are born with. The right to think. The right to speak. The right to defend yourself. The right to life.

Something can only be a natural right if it does not require compelling another person.

Taxation is a direct infringement on your natural right to own property, and it is a theft on both your private property, time, and labor.

In the free market, if you don't like a product, you don't buy it. But with taxation? You're FORCED to "buy" regardless of quality, necessity, or your personal stance. It strips away the power of choice.

What’s more, history shows that when people have control over their money, innovation and charity flourish. Imagine the progress we’d see if people weren’t burdened with taxation! 💡📷

Furthermore, when you say "taxation is the price we pay for a civilized society," it implies that without it, we can't have civilization. That's a false dichotomy. There are other ways to fund civilization WITHOUT involuntary extraction.

America had no federal income tax for over a century. In Feb 3, 1913 the 16th amendment was introduced and yet America became the world's largest and most powerful nation without an income tax for over a century (except for a very brief period in the 1800's).

Why is that?

The crux? Taxation undercuts the very principles of freedom and autonomy. It perpetuates the idea that some external authority has a greater claim over YOUR labor and YOUR property than you do.

America became the wealthiest nation in the history of the entire world, the nation with the highest standard of living, the nation with the most innovation, and the nation exporting its values throughout the world due to what?

The American way of Liberty and Freedom. 🦅

In conclusion, we believe Taxation is Theft not because we oppose the idea of communal contribution. We advocate for VOLUNTARY choices that empower individuals and their natural rights. Voluntary choices that respect their hard-earned money, their time, and their private property.

Remember: Consent is key. And involuntary taxation? It is not consensual. It is coercive. It is enforced by the point of a gun, with the threat of incarceration. It is nothing short of theft.

Thank you for listening this long!

Huge shoutout to my friend @Mericamemed for co-authoring this with me! Give him a Follow!