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I feel like I'm in crazytown when I express distress about taxation - literally people forcibly taking away your property - and ppl act like I'm the crazy one. Sure, you could argue that this forcible theft is worth it, and I'll respect that, but it's still not crazy to be upset.

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Assume the counterfactual: what if taxation were voluntary? Nobody would pay. System would break. No more civilization basics. It must need to be compulsory. Still upsetting, but only as upsetting (and inevitable) as death. At least we've kicked arranged marriage to the curb.

Aella

@Aella_Girl

Replying to

@puheenix

Religion, for all it's flaws, handles this well. I grew up in a family that voluntarily donated 10% of all of our meager, needed income (on top of taxes) to our church community. It's definitely possible!

6:20 AM · Apr 25, 2021

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Yeah, great point. & it's not just religion – effective altruism and other nonreligious movements show similar generosity. It's hard to compare though. People get very animated about philanthropic causes, but a lot of civic expenses seem bland until broken. Road work? Meh.

We Need A Truth and Reconciliation Commission

@bhaisahib

Apr 25, 2021

Replying to

@Aella_Girl

Well, I seem to recall that you are recovering from your repressive religious upbringing. It seems to me this is a poor example. Those folks would take away your freedom and impose God's will on you if given the chance. Or at minimum, pass laws restricting your freedom.

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Religion manages to be less accountable than modern governments, and a lot more exclusionary