On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:36:36 -0700, Stephen Trapani
wrote:



A higher sort. That's rich. Someone who really doesn't care about other
people, especially those who are dying.

Who are you talking about? I care about people. I just don't think that
stealing money by force from people and giving it to someone else is the
way to solve peoples' problems.

Stephen

Stephen,

Rosseau's statement that "all taxation is theft" and its underlying
arguments does not apply in this age and has been largely discredited.
If you wish to belong to a particular herd and claim protection and
hearth warmth from that herd then you must pay the piper.

That is why you elect the people who decide how much the membership
fees are and how it is spent.

Apart from any moral or empathetic reasons that come with a supposedly
highly developed civilisation, to me it makes economic sense to
financially try to help one's less fortunate citizens.

There is also the law of economic returns and the money-go-round of a
one dollar note given to a beggar. Its spending power is amplified
many fold as it gets passed along and eventually reaches your pocket.

I give money away, not because I am enjoined to give away 10% by my
religion, but because I feel a moral duty and have a desire to help
some other poor sod who may not be the maker of his own misfortunes. I
also have the realisation that I could have been and still could be,
in that boat.

In history, even from the time of the 18th century BC Hammurabi,
societies have been judged by how well and how justly they treated
their citizens, including their disadvantaged such as children,
slaves, the infirm and widows.

As a New Zealander, a large proportion of my taxes goes on free public
education (including university if you cannot afford it), reasonable
welfare payments and health care. I who do not need these things, am
more than happy to pay as I believe in the morality of a safety net
for all.

Peter