April 28, 2009

Are You A Slave?

Originally posted March 24, 2009

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 your 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 April 28, 2009 8:57 AM

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