After a few minutes of thinking, I conclude that there should just be a way for people who don't want to be taxed to, well, not be taxed, and not receive the benefits that that implies. The health care system in Canada is paid for by taxes (right?), so you don't have to have to pay for it when you need it. If I didn't want free health care, I should be allowed not to pay taxes that go to the health care system. It's like being forced to have insurance (pay every X amount every Y weeks in case you get hurt and need money / pay Z% of your income/property in case you get hurt and need money).

Considering how tax money is spent (Iraq war for example), this should be an option for every tax payer.

 

What about roads, courts, police department, army, heck, even streetlights?

How can you not use those?

 

Your idea may sound nice, but it's mostly not feasible.

You're right. Some are necessary. I'd need a list of taxes that are paid in the US to know what to say.

[Edit] And by that I mean you pick which taxes you want and don't want, with some that are obligatory.

 

 

What wouldn't be obligatory?

I'd need a list to answer. The only things I can think of off the top of my head are war and health care. I realize this is a very naive suggestion, and that it would be very hard to implement, like 1_man_army said.

I'd need a list to answer. The only things I can think of off the top of my head are war and health care. I realize this is a very naive suggestion, and that it would be very hard to implement, like 1_man_army said.

 

I'd assume war would go under 'army', in which case it would be obligatory.

 

As for healthcare... So if someone decided not to pay taxes for healthcare, and he's dying, no one could supply any medical help?

He'd have to pay out of his own wallet, I guess. How does that work in the US at the moment?

He'd have to pay out of his own wallet, I guess. How does that work in the US at the moment?

 

What about an emergency? Or when someone is unconscious?

He'd have to pay out of his own wallet, I guess. How does that work in the US at the moment?

 

What about an emergency? Or when someone is unconscious?

Well you obviously can't pay on the spot if you're unconscious, that doesn't mean you won't pay at all. I'm not saying you shouldn't get health care, I'm saying you should have the choice between paying the tax or paying when you actually use the service.

He'd have to pay out of his own wallet, I guess. How does that work in the US at the moment?

 

What about an emergency? Or when someone is unconscious?

Well you obviously can't pay on the spot if you're unconscious, that doesn't mean you won't pay at all. I'm not saying you shouldn't get health care, I'm saying you should have the choice between paying the tax or paying when you actually use the service.

 

One could say that he didn't seek the medical help he was given, and wouldn't pay. One could also not have enough money if it's an expensive and complicated procedure. Lastly, one could die in the process, in which case no one would pay for the medical help he received.

 

 

Again, the idea itself sounds great. It's just not feasible.

Fair enough.

Good luck getting anyone to elect to pay for transfer payments :thumbdown:

Because its not stealing?

 

Taxes are taken from all working citizens to pay for health care education etc etc.

 

In fact based on what a government has spent on you from when you were concieved to the time u start paying taxes you probably owe them a hell of alot more than u'll ever pay in taxes.

 

That couldn't be logically true for everyone though, otherwise the government would be very poor...

 

Our government(USA) IS very poor :P

 

 

Taxes aren't stealing, and I'm not sure why you thought it was, I realize you live in AUS, but still.

Dont want to pay taxes? That's fine, but then why dont you just go live on an island somewhere?

While taxes are a lot of money, and some could argue that they are not used efficiently, you're still living in their (the government's) country. Think of it as a rent if you will.

I believe in voluntarism.. which is basically anarcho-capialism.

What have I said that makes me sound like I think stealing isn't wrong? The first thing I stated was that stealing is wrong..

Only I can say what is for my own good. And only you can say what is good for you.. "Public" services are just monopolies.

 

 

Capitalist enterprises and property-driven societies, even quasi-anarchic ones like Russia, need protection and facilities by default. They can't only rely on private security companies for security, or on community collections for enormous projects such as sewage maintenance, building of oil pipes, heating routes, electric grids, etc.. The only way to finance these facilities is through taxing every participating and non-participating member of that society for a set amount of money regularly.

 

Though, there are many ways to go about with it. The current model used in Europe and the US guarantees a certain minimum level of services even for non-contributing citizens on grounds of humanity, but it's not particularly 'effective' and it significantly drains economical resources from people aspiring to rise out of the lower or middle social classes by labour. For example, in tax havens such as Panama, the vast majority of tax revenue comes from VAT and import tariffs, which do not have much direct impact on a consumer at all.

 

Salaries are taxed at 0%, companies pay some tax, but there are numerous loopholes in the legislation that effectively allow 0% taxation for corporations as well (especially if split in multiple shell entities). In return, the government only maintains the basic functions of society, such as waste management, military defence, rudimentary public schooling and some transportation duties. Advanced features such as social security or healthcare are not available, so if you fall poor or jobless suddenly, you are in big trouble (screwed) in a country of low taxation. Especially if you have loans or try to upkeep your previous lifestyle.

 

If it were not for the relatively heavy taxes levied on everything you do in society, you probably would not have your current standard of living, assuming you are middle class in a western country.