March 24, 2009
Are You A Slave?
Today, I picked up my own copy of Mark Levin's book, "Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto." BTW, if you haven't done so already, you should pick up your own copy.
In the opening chapter, Levin mentioned something that ignited a torrent of thought. He writes...
The individual's time on earth is finite, so, too, is his labor. The implications of this statement are profound.
Consider the vast amounts of taxes government takes from you. In 2008, if you made $66,000, the federal government alone took 25% of your income. How many of us have considered the idea that the government didn't just take 25% of our income, but 25% our time?
After all time is money, right? If the government had not taken that money from you, you could've spent that time with your family instead of working to make up the difference. Since you only have a finite amount of time on Earth, the government has taken time from you that you'll never get back. It's gone. They've stolen part of your life.
Frankly, that enrages me.
The fact of the matter is someone making $66,000 annually pays a much higher percentage to government entities. Federal income taxes, social security taxes, gas taxes, excise taxes, and fees for your car are all different ways the government taxes you. But, they're not just taking tour money, they're taking your time.
How many hours do you spend at work just to pay the government?
In the past, I've calculated my total tax burden as over 50% of my income. Effectively, half of my working hours are spent toiling away for the sake of government.
How is that not slavery?
Posted by Richard at March 24, 2009 5:36 PM
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Comments
just wanna say wow. fucking good point if i ever heard one.
Posted by: rexx at March 25, 2009 1:34 AM
I get it - you reap all the positive aspects of living in a society (water, police, firemen, EPA, FDA, Army, Navy, Airforce) but you don't actually want to pay for it. You're the most important thing in the world to all of us, and I don't think you should have to pay, either.
Fucking idiot.
Posted by: Christopher Wing at May 1, 2009 11:16 AM
Yeah. I also pay for Barack Obama to have a Pizza-chef delivered from Chicago to D.C. ...and to fly Air Force One around scaring the shit out of people. $900 Million to terrorists in Gaza. Millions to support abortion, something I believe is murder.
We certainly have to pay for stuff. No one is going to disagree with that. But why should I have to spend half my working hours working to pay for all that crap? I never, ever agreed to do that. I have never voted FOR that.
I would much rather spend time with loved ones. Wouldn't you? Why does anyone have a right take half my income away? Who ever gave them that right?
Posted by: Richard at May 4, 2009 10:10 PM