Why should we pay taxes?

Please see the previous two blog entries for the context of this one but here is the next sentence in a Facebook status update. "I believe the money I make belongs to me and not to some governmental functionary, to share with others who don't work!" That's a good idea if you don't believe in a social context for government. If you don't believe that the state should educate its citizens then it's fine. If you don't want the police or the armed services then it's fine too. If you don't want roads then it's fine.

Is it really controversial if I say we should house the poor? The big debate recently has been whether those on benefit should receive slightly less benefit if they live in a larger house in the social sector. Now, according to this fictitious author the debate is whether we should have any social sector. Want to abolish social workers too? Then abolish taxes.

If you don't want to pay for democracy then we can get rid of taxes. Of course we can't send any aid overseas if we don't pay taxes but that shouldn't bother this particular author. If you don't want your rubbish collected or streets cleaned then support the abolition of taxes. Law and order would have to be privatised. Buy your own security and you're alright as we can abolish the police service.

 I really haven't spent long thinking about why we should pay taxes. I am sure that there are many other reasons to pay tax but others take the opposite view. They need to give a little more thought as to what they want to abolish.

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