# Representation without Taxation

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representation-without-taxation/579276
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [April 21, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representation-without-taxation/579276 "2011-04-21T20:06:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 71

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### Author: ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representation-without-taxation/579276/71 "2011-04-23T06:16:19Z")

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> [@Chessic\_Sense](#):
>
> The point is, the rich guy can always decide to live like he’s poor and get treated equally by the IRS. He’s got that freedom of choice. That’s the important part. That’s what makes it fair.

That’s a damn twisted idea of 'fair." The rich guy has at all times the freedom to live as rich. That’s the power of money in the bank. So don’t pretend that his ‘self-denial’ is somehow making him equal to the poor.

In fact, your hypothetical miser who doesn’t spend his money is shrinking the GDP by not spending money, which tends to depress demand relative to his bank account’s proportion of the economy. Technically, if we want to maintain sufficient economic liquidity, he should be taxed _more_ to keep the money flowing through the economy, rather than letting some “simple life” weirdos deflate GDP.

So there. 😛

> [@2sense](#):
>
> Government is about more than just money. It regulates our entire lives. The only way one person could have less of a vested interest in their government than another is if they do (or would) live abroad.

This.

No, wait, this makes a certain orcish sense. From another thread:

> [@Is the Democratic party headed in the wrong direction?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-democratic-party-headed-in-the-wrong-direction/579187/15):
>
> > [@Is the Democratic party headed in the wrong direction?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-democratic-party-headed-in-the-wrong-direction/579187/7):
> >
> > OP, is it better to encourage responsibility or to take responsibility?
> > 
> > If it’s desirable for individuals to be responsible, why not for a government?
> > 
> > **And if you fall back on the importance of consent, let me preempt that: Nothing government does is or should be consensual. Government is an authority; if it’s not coercive, you’re doing it wrong.**
> 
> **I have to concede that you and I have a completely different vision of the role of government, but I will give it a whirl.**
> 
> It would absolutely be better to encourage responsibility rather than take it. A government choosing to take responsibility at its surmise that the people weren’t, is no longer led by the people.

The libertarian right apparently no longer see government as charged with ruling or governing the people. The welfare state has convinced them that the government is some kind of charitable fund, & they want to opt out of it like it’s the United Way or something.

Yet when you tell them it’s the government, they call you Lenin. 😕

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