this post was submitted on 08 Jun 2025
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Explain Like I'm Five
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Thousands of years of civilization have taught us that it's more efficient for everyone to pitch in to help each other than it is for everyone to live like a hermit and hoard their wealth.
I'm not asking for justifications for tax I'm asking for a reason to why it's not theft.
Because you get something in return for it. It's not theft; it's payment.
But it's something you didn't ask for nor have the option to decline. The whole point of payment is that you choose to pay it.
Do you choose to use roads? Do you choose to shower? Do you choose to use power? Do you choose to use sewer? Do you choose to use public parks? Do you choose to use libraries? Do you choose to use anything subsidized by the government?
Then you're choosing to pay for it. Million dollar infrastructure projects cannot be funded without taxes. It's better if the load is balanced. This is why billionaires should be footing the majority of the bill, so you don't have to cover their share. You should reframe your question to: why do billionaires steal money from us by not paying their fair share?
You certainly do have the option to decline!
Serious answer, living in a society is not the default way to live in the world.
The option to say no is to decline to use the territory or services offered by a state.
In other words, one would need to renounce citizenship of any countries one is a part of. Any commercial interactions they still have with a society will incur tax, if they prefer to not pay tax at all (for whatever reason), they would have to choose not to interact commercially with any person or organisation that is part of a state.
So do you think buying food and water is also theft?
You just got your answer: Because it is agreed that it helps all of us.
Don’t want to pay taxes? Stop drinking tap water. Don’t turn on your lights. Stop driving on the roads. Don’t seek any medical care ever. Don’t catch the bus. Don’t even look at a public park.
If everybody pays a fraction of their income, these things can be funded. If we all went it alone, do you have the money or skills to maintain the roads you drive on? If you don’t, do you think the other guy is going to do it for free? Or cheap, knowing that he has skills you don’t?
EDIT: it can be argued about the proper use of tax funds in any particular country, eg an excessive ‘defence’ budget in the US.
Because the consensus definition of “theft” doesn’t include it.