From: weiner@bnlls1.nsls.bnl.gov (Gary Weiner)
Subject: Re: Want _Your_ Blood to Boil too?
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 17:16:43 GMT

In article <rdippold.714770758@cancun> rdippold@cancun.qualcomm.com (Ron Dippold) writes:
>duggan@terminus.gatech.edu (Rick Duggan) writes:
>>In article <1992Aug19.133159.4961@tijc02.uucp> pjs269@tijc02.uucp (Paul Schmidt) writes:

>10% in poverty?  Or 10% at what the US Government calls the poverty
>level - where those in "poverty" own their own homes, cars, TVs, and
>satellite dishes?

I think the current poverty level is around $8000 per year for a 
single person ($12,000) for a family of four.  I don't think that many
people can afford food and clothing at that level, let alone cars, TVs
or satellite dishes.

>
>We've spent enough on social programs to have lifted every single one
>of these people out of poverty, if the amount of money spent was all
>that mattered, and if we just gave them the money.  $100 per is
>amazing, considering that we're being taxed at 40-50%, and this, we're
>told, takes care of all these social problems.  If you want to use a
>number, use the number for donations if all taxes related to social
>spending were canceled.

This sounds much like the "Trickle Down" theory and "1000 points of
light", and we all know how well that works.

>
>>>This is where you have implied force.  Force is needed to collect taxes.
>>>If a robber comes into your home and steals money from you, this is
>>>morally wrong.  If 10 robbers steal from you, it is still wrong.  Same
>>>with 100.  How many people does it take in a gang to make the immorality
>>>of robbery a moral tax?
>
>>There is very little similarity between the government and a robber
>>who steals from you. 
>
>The government can do it brazenly, is not content to rob you just
>once, and is generally more vicious if you don't cough up the money.

God, you "taxes are theft" people are so thick it's just incredible. Let
me clue you in on something, without the government you would not have any
money for them to "steal" from you. Don't think so?  Okay, how do you get
to work in the morning, you drive on a road paid for with tax dollars. Why
can't I just walk into your house, put a gun in your face, and take what
I like with impunity, because tax dollars pay for police to protect you.
Why is there even money for you to buy things with, because there is
a government to stand behind  the money so you don't have to lug a bushel
of wheat around to barter to get shoes for your kids.

As a matter of fact, without government funded schools and universitys, we
would still be a backward agrarian people.

Taxes  are the dues you pay to society in return for all the benefits you
recieve.  If you don't like the things that your money is spent on, then
elect someone who'll vote the way you want.

If this still doesn't appeal to you, then you are free to leave, I think 
there are still some choice parcels of land in Antarctica that you can
get where no government will steal your money.

Gary J. Weiner  | Brookhaven National Laboratories  | "The killer awoke 
PO BOX 715      | National Synchrotron Light Source |  before dawn...
Upton,NY 11973  |    weiner@bnlls1.nsls.bnl.gov     |  he put his boots on..."