(December 14, 2016 at 2:08 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote:You cannot fund government with 0% taxes but neither can you have a free society with 100% taxes. People who complain about confiscatory taxes usually think they are being taxed unfairly not that they shouldn't have to pay taxes at all. Which raises the larger point: what is fair?(December 14, 2016 at 11:05 am)alpha male Wrote: Depends where he lives. Around here, yes, the fire departments are volunteer nonprofit organizations that rely on charitable donations, raffles, bingo, etc.
In the small town/countryside where I live, we are indeed served by a VFD supported by donations and events-proceeds. We are also covered by the county fire dept which of course is funded by taxation.
In his case, his home was saved by a professional, public FD; hence my point about his eating his cake and complaining about it, too.
On the one hand it seems fair that everyone should contribute the exact same amount. But not everyone has equal ability to pay. On the other hand it would seem fair for people to pay taxes proportional to the benefit they receive from the government. But it doesn't seem fair to apply a principle unequally. While a rich man indirectly benefits by having more of his wealth protected, a poor man on public assistance receives direct benefits without having to pay nearly that amount in taxes.
Saying that everyone should pay their "fair share" is largely uncontroversial...until trying to decide what is fair.
