People would just do what they felt like doing. Total chaos. Any gathering of people needs conventions and rules. Even a couple living together.
The last time I checked, few couples living with each other had to arm themselves and enforce their agreements with violence.
That would be ideal, wouldn't it? Bute would have to rely on the generosity of individuals to 'contribute'. People are very selfish by nature. A single person might say 'I don't have kids, I lead a healthy lifestyle and I've never been sick. I'm not going to contribute to building schools or hospitals.
And why shouldn't that be their right? If I start my liquor store, should I be able to force you to buy my liquor if you don't drink?
I'd rather spend all my money on other material goods.'. What is going to happen when this person does need a hospital or had kids? Are the people who contributed to those going to say 'show us you have helped build and run this hospital.. You haven't? Sorry... can't use it.'
If that's how the hospital wants to do things, so be it.
Now.. forcing you into a job... Though there are places where this does exist, let's be reasonable in our arguements. Having a collective responsibility does not mean living under a dictatorship (or worse than that!).
It does mean that. But certainly some dictatorships are far worse than others.
You wouldn't have a gun to your head. You would have your car taken away, you may be fined. Stop paying your income tax... again, you will be fined, maybe go to jail. You will have broken the rules.... rules that you knew. You accepted the rule when you bought your car - you would pay tax on it. You also accepted the rule when you started working that you would pay income tax.
I don't accept any rules just by merely existing. I do not believe in Original Sin.
Similar answer as above. If taxation were optional, I doubt very much that any government could get much out of their people. I think they may gladly pay for themselves for something that would benefit them directly, but would get really pissed off to see others not contributing and still benefitting. Again, people are inherently selfish.
Ok, help me out here. If it's "inherently selfish" to want to choose what to do with your money, what is it to want to choose services? Today, we have millions of Americans who receive government services without paying a dollar. Furthermore, we have millions of Americans who pay for services they don't use. Why are the latter "selfish" if they want out, but the former not for wanting more?
Furthermore, is it not "selfish" to want clean air at the cost of someone else? If "altruism" is your ultimate standard, why not just choke to death in the exhaust fumes of your neighbors Hummers.
I don't understand why "selfish" is some kind of dirty word around here.
Yep... your choice to play or not.... you can always 'disappear' and therefore not have to abide by some of the rules. You would still need to live, ie purchase goods, use transport (?), etc., but at least you would pay taxes (unless you buy a car!)
Yep.
There are a lot of the rules I don't like, but if you want to be a halfway decent member of society, you need to learn how to live with them. I'm not saying you need to accept them. You can protest, etc., do your bit to change them.
See, that's the thing. I can do both. I can be a halfway decent member of this society without your rules. I don't give to charity or treat my employees well or love my family or treat my friends and neighbors with the respect they deserve because of any of your rules.
Taxes will pay for these people to do their research. The tax on your car or cigarettes or alcohol will pay for the resources needed in combatting global warming, climate change, environmental issued. A necessary evil.
Yes.. find new ways to do things, to clean up the air, etc. But one needs money for that.
One does need money for that. And that's something I'd love to pay for. But I'll pay for it directly, thank you. That's why every car I've ever owned is a Honda. That's why every drop of electricity that comes into my house comes from non fossil-fuels.
I pay for these things directly through something that many people here will turn around and decry 5 minutes from now: profit.
Comments
The last time I checked, few couples living with each other had to arm themselves and enforce their agreements with violence.
And why shouldn't that be their right? If I start my liquor store, should I be able to force you to buy my liquor if you don't drink?
If that's how the hospital wants to do things, so be it.
It does mean that. But certainly some dictatorships are far worse than others.
I don't accept any rules just by merely existing. I do not believe in Original Sin.
Ok, help me out here. If it's "inherently selfish" to want to choose what to do with your money, what is it to want to choose services? Today, we have millions of Americans who receive government services without paying a dollar. Furthermore, we have millions of Americans who pay for services they don't use. Why are the latter "selfish" if they want out, but the former not for wanting more?
Furthermore, is it not "selfish" to want clean air at the cost of someone else? If "altruism" is your ultimate standard, why not just choke to death in the exhaust fumes of your neighbors Hummers.
I don't understand why "selfish" is some kind of dirty word around here.
Yep.
See, that's the thing. I can do both. I can be a halfway decent member of this society without your rules. I don't give to charity or treat my employees well or love my family or treat my friends and neighbors with the respect they deserve because of any of your rules.
One does need money for that. And that's something I'd love to pay for. But I'll pay for it directly, thank you. That's why every car I've ever owned is a Honda. That's why every drop of electricity that comes into my house comes from non fossil-fuels.
I pay for these things directly through something that many people here will turn around and decry 5 minutes from now: profit.