3 of 3

Write now Article Tools

There is a consensus of opinion amongst the political elite who rule the nation that taxation is good for us, they appreciate that we do not particularly like being fleeced by the state, but they are convinced that it is a bit like medecin, the fouler it tastes, the more efficacious the concoction; a notion to which our masters are wedded in indissoluble union. Nothing will convince them otherwise.

This conviction that the acceptance of taxation as a moral obligation has seeped from the political class and has engulfed much of the population at large, it has become the Nicene creed of modern government, to argue otherwise is deemed to be heresy.
Now, we all know there are certain things a government must do on behalf of its citizens, these obligations can not be undertaken by the individual, defense of the nation being the most obvious, but when the state extends its financial remit beyond these recognized boundaries, and taxes its people to pay for those activities, then this is the point at which taxation becomes state sanctioned larceny.
In England, there is the odd politician who is against excessive levels of taxation, but, these individuals are nervous about expressing such sentiments, as to do so instantly lays them open to the charge that they are in favor of cutting services. Of all the falsehoods peddled in the vicinity of Westminster, this is the most egregious, it is an insult to the intelligence of the voters.
No essential service needs to be cut to finance revenue reduction, the Ministry of Defense employs more civil servants than soldiers, the health service gives house room to more administrators than there are medical staff, no room for tax cuts? Please, don't insult our intelligence. If all that were not bad enough, there are a million or more state employees doing useless jobs which nobody wants and nobody needs and were created to form a client base beholden to the government, and therefore likely to vote for it. These positions are for outreach workers and suchlike, whatever they may be, and let us not forget the armies employed by local authorities to check that the rubbish is put out on the correct day and the officials running around ensuring the population is eating the prescribed amount of greens,and not smoking or drinking more than half a glass of wine in a week.
All these unwanted and intrusive activities are funded by taxation, and therein lies the threat to the traditional liberties of the nation.
Money is power, and no entity has more of both than the government. The only way to reduce its power is to reduce its income, the amount it confiscates from us to fund its schemes.
It cannot be denied that an excess of taxation is a threat to those fundamental liberties for which our ancestors fought and took centuries to accumulate. Unless the voters put their collective feet down and say enough id enough, not a penny more, then those rights and freedoms which remain to us will disappear, never to return.

Learn more about this author, Stephen Maybery.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Taxation: The greatest threat to freedom?
We want to hear your view. Write now!