• @broken_chatbot
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    209 hours ago

    tbh, in this interpretation, it sounds like extortion, sort of what gangs usually do to minor business owners

    tax is tax, it’s a mandatory contribution to society you morally and legally obliged to do, not a payment for not being killed

    • @stupidcasey
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      31 hour ago

      Any payment that is mandatory is definitionally extortion.

      “Extortion is the act of obtaining money, property, or services from an individual or institution through coercion, threats, or intimidation.”

      A contribution cannot be obligated.

      “A contribution is something given or offered to help achieve a common goal or cause.“

      Morality is subjective.

      The Law is just a Mob that can hold power, If you had a choice you and every other individual would choose not to pay taxes up to and including your own detriment.

      Not saying we would be better without law but I am saying Laws are just as immoral as any other system.

      • JaggedRobotPubes
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        120 minutes ago

        And all the good things we rely on in society don’t work unless everybody pitches in. It’s not “do I give you money Y/N”, it’s " do I give you money and get the benefits of living in society Y/N".

        Or, as in some societies, only the bad parts, with the good parts forcibly stripped away.

    • @chonglibloodsport
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      318 hours ago

      The whole libertarian argument is that the government is just the most powerful gang who goes around extorting everyone to pay taxes. If we’re not morally obligated to pay up when it’s a small gang, why does morality change when it’s a large gang?

      • @broken_chatbot
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        177 hours ago

        as a person coming from a totalitarian country, I would still prefer dealing with a single gang which also has its own welfare obligations can be corrected or overthrown when needed, than several mafia-like cartels which only care about extorting money from me providing nothing to both me and the society as a whole.

        governments have responsibility, too, it’s just some don’t accept it

        • @chonglibloodsport
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          137 hours ago

          Oh definitely. That’s the argument from pragmatism which I wholeheartedly support. At the end of the day, we need to feed and shelter ourselves and keep ourselves safe from aggression and violence.

          The moral argument is a much more difficult one to tackle. Much has been written on this topic: consent of the governed, responsibility of the individual towards society and vice versa.

    • @shneancy
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      208 hours ago

      morality and legality barely apply to billionaires of the world. If they don’t want to play by the rules then how long can we put up with them hoarding the wealth that could save millions?

  • @Darkard
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    2010 hours ago

    A subscription to being alive

  • @IsThisAnAI
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    -98 hours ago

    It’s okay when my side threatens violence.

    • @pyre
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      32 hours ago

      yes, unironically. the other side is fucking billionaires, dude.

    • @NatakuNox
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      185 hours ago

      Why is passive violence never acknowledged? Wealthy people create conditions in which poor people die and are harmed. Boeing literally has planes dropping out of the sky killing hundreds, all because an executive and investors want more money and power. Their punishment, a small fine. A politician can wave away health care for millions of people resulting in death and injury… Nothing but a high five from those that decry “violence.” and don’t get me started on the oil industry… If the wealthy and powerful can indirectly kill millions with out punishment to the extreme then we don’t have a society.

    • Lux
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      137 hours ago

      If those in power are making millions of lives worse, they should be stopped. I prefer doing this by taking their power, but I would settle for their heads if there is no alternative.

    • @glimse
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      147 hours ago

      Both sides have reasons that are the same, right? /s

    • Flying Squid
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      97 hours ago

      I’m okay with any threat of violence when the threat is a very obvious joke.

      • @NatakuNox
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        65 hours ago

        Who’s joking? Because when they (the wealthy and powerful) say they’ll send your children to die in wars and to be injured working in unsafe conditions… They are not joking.

        • Flying Squid
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          65 hours ago

          If you’re not joking, when and where are you planning to set up said guillotine?

    • @[email protected]
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      -148 hours ago

      I know they’re a tiny minority, and most of these extremists are literal kids, but they sure are successful at eroding my faith in humanity.

      • @glimse
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        227 hours ago

        The systematic oppression of everyone without wealth didn’t erode your faith in humanity but a couple people suggesting we kill our masters did? Well, at least you’ve got the moral high ground

          • @glimse
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            107 hours ago

            Haven’t noticed the skyrocketing wealth gap, eh? Costs going up for us while profits go up for them? Government policies that benefit them at our expense? Laws that don’t seem to apply to people with money? Maybe I’m the crazy one

            • @[email protected]
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              6 hours ago

              You’re describing the sympoms. I was asking about the cause. “Systemic oppression of anyone without wealth” is quite a bold claim.

              • @glimse
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                106 hours ago

                The cause is literally wealth hoarding. By those being recommended to the guillotine. They didn’t happen by accident.

                • @[email protected]
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                  -26 hours ago

                  You’re being quite vague. What is wealth hoarding? Is Elon Musk the richest man in the world because he’s hoarding wealth?

      • @Clent
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        87 hours ago

        People like you are why I no longer wonder where evil movie villains find all those faceless henchmen.

        You will never be one of them. No matter how nice you are to them they will treat you the same as anyone else they see as inferior.

        • @[email protected]
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          34 hours ago

          Slightly nicer to your face if you simp hard enough. Their still grossed out and laughing, behind your back.

          • @Clent
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            21 hour ago

            Assuming they spend anytime thinking about you at all.

            The media always paints it as this cute thing when rich and powerful give everyone a nickname but it’s because they cannot be bothered to remember your name.