Is it "stealing" for the government to tax people for social services?

[Age]

[
Does that elucidate the concept?

No. Perhaps God has given the government custody over a portion of one's income, for all you know.

He hasn't.

LOL 'This one', still, believes, and absolutely so, that God has a penis.

But if you think maybe He has, show where.

If you think that God is a 'male', then show where.

If you think God does define 'property', then show where.

And, if you do not, then why not?

Again, why are you so unsure of 'your beliefs', here?

[Age]

...taxes being distributed for services that will benefit everyone, including the poor...

Do I need to point out to you the ridiculous examples of fraud found at USAID?

LOL
LOL
LOL

you can, if you like. While you completely ignore the ridiculous examples of fraud found in weapons manufacturing, and all of the other examples of fraud from within obtaining 'workers' 'taxed money'.

For one who has claimed it is not from the, laughably, named', "united states of america", you really do come across with a love of 'defending' where some of 'the money' gets spent on.

Or how about the 186,000 dead people who were receiving food stamps? Does the 7.01 trillion dollars in bureaucrats spent in 2025 alone help the poor? How about the Democrats' war in Ukraine; is that helping the poor?

How about 'your very narrowed and absolutely closed view and perspective' on things, here?

There are taxes at work...enriching government, and throwing peanuts to the people.

But, again, why are you concerned about 'taxes' in 'that tiny little insignificant country'?

Surely if you as you claim, do not live there, then why worry about 'that money'?

After all 'they' will just go and produce 'more money' anyway, whenever 'they' feel like it. What even is another few trillion of dollars to 'that country' when it is already 30 something trillion in debt anyway?

It does not matter what "side" of government one is on, 'the people' of 'that country' have been absolutely useless when in comes to 'raining in debt', and spending wisely.

people in governments around the world set up websites and helplines for citizens who are, personally, 'drowning in debt', so why do those same people pass on 'their advice' to 'those' who are meant to be 'running countries'? The last time the, laughably called, "united states of america" was said to be 'debt free' was in 1835. So, that is nearly 200 years that 'they' have been 'in debt'. Which, obviously, can only occur when people are 'wasteful' and/or 'corrupt'.

Why that insignificant tiny little country is known as the 'wealthiest country' I am not sure, especially considering that when people are 'in debt' they are certainly not classed as 'wealthy', and the more a person is 'in debt', then the 'less wealthy' and 'poorer' they are called and/or known as. And, considering that 'that country' is three times more in debt than any other country is, in the days when this is being written, some wonder why some people, still, hold 'the delusion' that it is 'the wealthiest country'.

[Alexiev]

Here's the paasage from Matthew:

Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Now, I'll admit Jesus may be trying to cleverly protect himself. But still. He clearly supports paying taxes.

[Immanuel Can]

Taxes.

Nope. Things with Caesar's image and inscription. Haven't you actually read the text?

Don't U.S.legal tender bills bear the faces of "Caesars"?

So give your money to George Washington. I'm sure he'll appreciate it.

[accelafine]

According to IC, Jebus should have sold the 'loaves and fishes' to the highest bidders.

[Alexiev]

No open bar at the wedding at Cana. Two denarius for a glass of wine.

[phyllo]

God didn't define 'property'.

People define 'property'.

That's your assumption, I accept. It's false, of course, but I accept that it is your assumption.

It's not an assumption, it's a conclusion.

Every "revelation from god" is examined by people who decide whether it's a real revelation, a real god, a god worth believing and trusting, an idea worth adopting.

If people think it's a good idea, then they adopt it. If not, then they ignore it. And they may eventually drop it after a trial period.

That's why there are so many gods, religions and sects. And that's why gods and religions have been abandoned. Hundreds, if not thousands of them.

Ultimately people decide.

[phyllo]

Nope. Things with Caesar's image and inscription. Haven't you actually read the text?

Don't U.S.legal tender bills bear the faces of "Caesars"?

So give your money to George Washington. I'm sure he'll appreciate it.

I tend to think that you are not giving your money to the people (dead or alive) printed or stamped on your bills and coins.

[phyllo]

...taxes being distributed for services that will benefit everyone, including the poor...

Do I need to point out to you the ridiculous examples of fraud found at USAID? Or how about the 186,000 dead people who were receiving food stamps? Does the 7.01 trillion dollars in bureaucrats spent in 2025 alone help the poor? How about the Democrats' war in Ukraine; is that helping the poor?

There are taxes at work...enriching government, and throwing peanuts to the people.

But you're saying that even if the tax money went 100% to the poor and helped them, it would still be immoral stealing.

[Immanuel Can]

God didn't define 'property'.

People define 'property'.

That's your assumption, I accept. It's false, of course, but I accept that it is your assumption.

It's not an assumption, it's a conclusion.

Then you've assumed your conclusion, which is a fallacy.

[Immanuel Can]

Don't U.S.legal tender bills bear the faces of "Caesars"?

So give your money to George Washington. I'm sure he'll appreciate it.

I tend to think that you are not giving your money to the people (dead or alive) printed or stamped on your bills and coins.

You tend not to know what I do.

[Immanuel Can]

...taxes being distributed for services that will benefit everyone, including the poor...

Do I need to point out to you the ridiculous examples of fraud found at USAID? Or how about the 186,000 dead people who were receiving food stamps? Does the 7.01 trillion dollars in bureaucrats spent in 2025 alone help the poor? How about the Democrats' war in Ukraine; is that helping the poor?

There are taxes at work...enriching government, and throwing peanuts to the people.

But you're saying that even if the tax money went 100% to the poor and helped them, it would still be immoral stealing.

Are you taking their money with their permission, or are you using the government to rob them of it?

[Alexiev]

Do I need to point out to you the ridiculous examples of fraud found at USAID? Or how about the 186,000 dead people who were receiving food stamps? Does the 7.01 trillion dollars in bureaucrats spent in 2025 alone help the poor? How about the Democrats' war in Ukraine; is that helping the poor?

There are taxes at work...enriching government, and throwing peanuts to the people.

But you're saying that even if the tax money went 100% to the poor and helped them, it would still be immoral stealing.

Are you taking their money with their permission, or are you using the government to rob them of it?

By being member of the polity and using tax-funded roads, schools, parks, etc., taxpayers give their tacit permission to be taxed. Nobody needs to pay taxes: you could go off the grid; refuse to work at jobs that rely on government infrastructure (i.e. all jobs that withhold taxes) and support yourself in other ways.

IN addition, of course there is fraud and waste in government spending, just like there is corporate spending. When that much money is involved, it's inevitable. It's a drop in the bucket, though, in terms of percentage.

[phyllo]

That's your assumption, I accept. It's false, of course, but I accept that it is your assumption.

It's not an assumption, it's a conclusion.

Then you've assumed your conclusion, which is a fallacy.

I didn't assume anything.

[phyllo]

So give your money to George Washington. I'm sure he'll appreciate it.

I tend to think that you are not giving your money to the people (dead or alive) printed or stamped on your bills and coins.

You tend not to know what I do.

I know that you thought your joke about George Washington was very clever.