Decius wrote:
It does not follow from the conclusion that taxation is theft that taxation isn't necessary or even immoral.

I see. The use of the term "theft" wasn't meant at all to imply any of the actual negative connotations that it carries. I understand now.

Wonderful use of language.

1. Deliberately pick a word that carries certain meaning to the reader due to the fact that THAT'S WHAT THE WORD MEANS.

2. Upon receiving the reader's argument, essentially, that that's the wrong word to be using, reply that you didn't mean it that way, but a different way.

3. Bask in your own cleverness.

The word "theft" implies immorality. Your use of the word was quite obviously meant to imply specifically that the appropriation of people's money by the government is, at least in part, an action with negative moral implications. If you didn't mean to imply that, then the use of the word theft was incorrect. If you're simply trying to goad people, I don't see the point of asking for debate. You clearly got the response you wanted.

I don't appreciate your ruse.

If you're trying to say that the democrats should be more attentive to the fact that people don't like taxation, say that. It's probably even true, although I think pinning the Democrats with this is a bit unfair. Even allowing that the Democrats, largely, want to raise taxes and expand spending on (evil, wasteful) social programs (that communities should provide, naturally, owing to everyone's natural Christian generosity), it should be noted that our friends in the Bush administration have been all about cutting taxes AND increasing spending. Awesome. Much better solution. Oh, but the war makes all that ok, I guess, so I'll leave off on that... we can have our war and our tax cuts too.

Of course, the basic argument against taxation is based upon the principle that people got to where they were on the basis of their own hard work and determination, and don't owe anyone else anything. Such people always, always overestimate how much of their success was actually based on their own hard work and determination, and how much is the result of living in a society that provides an infrastructure, an ecosystem, upon and within which their success could be built.

Now, there's a topic for debate.

RE: FIVE CONSERVATIVE MYTHS