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aloysius  ·  3542 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Deep State America

Taxation is done to keep the state alive. Calling it extortion is ridiculous, and misses the historical and social reasons we have tax. Sure, maybe it feels like extortion because there's a threat of punishment, but a having a government is the natural state of things, and they do provide some very beneficial services.

Perhaps it's because I think Hobbes provides realistic perspectives on the existence of the state, that I don't think it's so evil and immoral. I actually do think having a state is a useful, noble thing, and I think it's rather clear that any stateless entity will not have any longevity, not because it's unstable, but because more powerful actors will always come in.