From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Tue Jun 29 2004 - 21:23:09 BST
Hi All,
MSH asks:
> QUESTION
> How do you feel about the argument that taxation is theft?
> Tax money is certainly coerced by the state, and we often
> wind up supporting things we don't want to. This argument
> works well for income tax protests, like the one you were
> involved in during the Vietnam war, but as I'm sure you
> know, the political right often likes to use it for things
> like PBS. Why should taxes support PBS? If my neighbor
> never listens to it and says "I don't want to pay for it",
> should he have to?
I can't think of one good reason why he should.
> Related to this argument is the assumption (correct me if
> I'm wrong) that what one does when one makes a private
> donation to something like PBS is effectively what we
> strive for with system of taxation, taking special note of
> certain "free rider" difficulties as occur with Defense and
> Social Spending. Without getting too wordy, do you think
> it's preferable to finance PBS (and the like) with
> "coerced" taxpayer money rather than by private donations?
No. There's no reason to privilege PBS over other radio/TV stations. Only
those arrogant enough to believe they know what's good for the public more
than what the public wants could even conceive of tax-payer supported
radio/TV. PBS is little more than a propaganda platform for the
government.
Best,
Platt
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