There is another way of looking at this issue. You mention the idea of going Galt, in many postings.
This is something that happens, during the collapse of empires and other successful countries.At some point in the decline, the people just refuse to support their country. After decades of being ripped off by corrupt officials, they do not feel obligated to defend their country. There is nothing in it for them. Why support a bloated and corrupt bureaucracy, when your own life is in shambles. Currently in the US, government workers continue to earn big incomes. The private sector gets stuck with the bill. More and more companies are just giving up on their domestic operations, and relocating overseas. This is just an early stage of a social decline. Next, you will start hearing about individuals, leaving the US for better economic opportunities.
So is agorism more or less a passive-aggressive form of rebellion against the government?
And if you don't pay your share of taxes, you don't thing the beast will just tax someone else?
I have more respect for someone like the Captain who is honestly going Galt by limiting his income, than someone like FSK who is attempting to cheat the system by hiding income.
FSK and cappy, do you consider the parallel economy of illegal immigrants' businesses described in California by Victor Davis Hanson to be agorism? If not, why not?
If the government is not legitimate, then tax evasion is not a crime. In that case, tax evasion is heroic.
"Tax evasion is stealing!" is an excellent example of government propaganda. "Tax evasion is stealing!" assumes that government has a valid claim against my life, labor, and property.
The income tax literally means "I have to get permission from the government whenever I work." The income tax means I'm a partial slave and not free.
When inside-the-system attempts at reform don't work, then the only other option is to avoid supporting it via taxes.
There is another way of looking at this issue. You mention the idea of going Galt, in many postings.
ReplyDeleteThis is something that happens, during the collapse of empires and other successful countries.At some point in the decline, the people just refuse to support their country. After decades of being ripped off by corrupt officials, they do not feel obligated to defend their country. There is nothing in it for them. Why support a bloated and corrupt bureaucracy, when your own life is in shambles.
Currently in the US, government workers continue to earn big incomes. The private sector gets stuck with the bill. More and more companies are just giving up on their domestic operations, and relocating overseas. This is just an early stage of a social decline. Next, you will start hearing about individuals, leaving the US for better economic opportunities.
Wow. According to Google Analytics, you sent 170 people to my blog. I estimate I have about 200 regular serious readers.
ReplyDeleteI re-read my agorism post. I realized I'm a much better writer now! That's an old post from when I first discovered agorism.
Here's some tips to get you started:
Start a gold/silver/FRN barter network, making it easy to convert paper money to real money.
Give dancing classes in your home or a friend's finished basement. Ask your customers to pay you in cash. Don't report it.
The idea is to work 100% off-the-books. This way, you can work without supporting evil via taxes.
So is agorism more or less a passive-aggressive form of rebellion against the government?
ReplyDeleteAnd if you don't pay your share of taxes, you don't thing the beast will just tax someone else?
I have more respect for someone like the Captain who is honestly going Galt by limiting his income, than someone like FSK who is attempting to cheat the system by hiding income.
Sorry, no sale.
FSK and cappy, do you consider the parallel economy of illegal immigrants' businesses described in California by Victor Davis Hanson to be agorism? If not, why not?
ReplyDeleteI have no moral problem with people hiding income. I see nothing wrong with FSK's outlook.
ReplyDeleteIf the government is not legitimate, then tax evasion is not a crime. In that case, tax evasion is heroic.
ReplyDelete"Tax evasion is stealing!" is an excellent example of government propaganda. "Tax evasion is stealing!" assumes that government has a valid claim against my life, labor, and property.
The income tax literally means "I have to get permission from the government whenever I work." The income tax means I'm a partial slave and not free.
When inside-the-system attempts at reform don't work, then the only other option is to avoid supporting it via taxes.