Gene Wolfe Fans Talk Politics (Again)

brunians at brunians.org · 19 May 2009, 21:56 · from 2009-May.txt.gz

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From: brunians at brunians.org (brunians at brunians.org)
Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 17:56:56 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: (urth) Gene Wolfe Fans Talk Politics (Again)
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I calls them like I sees them. I prefer to look straight at things and
name them plainly, rather than search for more comforting, euphemistic
ways to express plain reality. And I don't think that taxation is
something we should be really comfortable with, even if a certain amount
is necessary.

By the way, I devote zero effort to evading taxes, and even keep good
track of the cash money I make so that I can accurately pay my quarterly
taxes.

Extortion makes the world go round....




.

> On May 19, 2009, at 4:36 PM, brunians at brunians.org wrote:
>
>> I said this in a recent post. I will expand upon it.
>>
>> Taxation, the extortion of money from the citizens, is permissible for
>> things that are necessary.
>
> Ah.  So "extortion" can, in your world, be a good thing, or at least a
> necessary evil.
>
> This was confusing to me.
>
> I prefer to consider taxation neither theft nor extortion, but rather
> more like dues: something I must pay in order to retain a member in
> good standing of a club whose benefits I enjoy.  I can at any point
> choose to leave that club; if at that I insist on sticking around
> somewhere I'm still reaping its benefits, then I may find myself
> liable to experience unpleasant consequences, like being thrown in the
> pokey.
>
> Adam
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