- 27 Oct 2011 13:39
#13820315
I personally feel the above two posters have avoided the question, so will bite on the non-libertarian behalf. Firstly, I should note I am not a conservative; however feel the query deals with a far wider principle that is not bound by a single ideology alone.
I can only assume you’re tackling this question from the perspective of tax is robbery, or at the very least an idea that even if it is not innately evil it should be within your control. Although you are correct that it is your money, you are also living within a society that spends money on you, and on your children. Roads, healthcare, schools, benefits, housing, economic stimulus – you are where you are because of the state, so yes you do have to give some back. Many of us will not always use these features, it is true. I for one have had to have very little medical cover in my life. However, just like any good insurance, you are paying for others security whilst accepting that your own is secure, should you ever have need of it.
When it comes to the idea of directing your taxes, I am far more sympathetic. The issue however, is one of practicality, rather than the states responsibility to your ethics. If everyone felt like you, we would have no defence. What if people would rather not pay at all? I’m sure all of us would like less tax! Before you know it the system shuts down and bad things ensue. Libertarians will no doubt argue that the private sector can cover all this – however that is another question entirely, one which I’d imagine most of us consider concluded against them. So we end up with a simple all of nothing really: either we pay tax and let the elected officials deal with it based on their responsible knowledge, or we don’t pay tax at all. Anywhere in the middle simply leads to a breakdown of the system as funds will not be distributed by need.
As posted above; different parties represent different views. If you’re not happy, vote for it! That’s what a democracy is about. This said, we actually live in a Republic, where we elect officials to make decisions for us. This is a counter measure to the very obvious fact that many voters are stupid. We all accept it’s not a perfect system, I personally think I’m paying too much tax, but then again I would rather trust an elected, mandated government to spend my money in the manner they were elected, rather than pay no tax but live in a world without government, or the security and law it brings.
Well I’ve run out of things to say now... guess I should probably go back to work, huh?