Taxation Nation new Website

If you've got time, check out the next website, taxation nation, where it is intended to build a number of resources, useful information and links, on the subjects of taxation and the personal freedom we do or don't actually have. Keep an eye on it!

Benjamin Franklin's autobiography

Lately, I've been reading the Autobiography of Ben Franklin, one of America's founding fathers. Actually, as great as it is, it's worth noting that this writing is merely him writing on 3 separate chapters of his life. I suspect there are other less noteworthy parts which we will never get to hear about, although the views of the man himself, and the inherent positivity and belief in the nature of man underlyingly ride his texts throughout. One bit that struck me, was his brief mention of coming to London and "enjoying the company of ladies of lower standing". Leaving my imagination about what he might be referring to behind, the main bit that stands out is his semi-ranting chapter on how none of us should feel bitterness or cuss the government in their taking of taxes from us to fund better lives for us all. Ben seems almost naive in this respect, although considering he was talking about decent roads, street sweeping and basic street lighting, one can easily see these are valuable functions which can be more usefully performed by a collective of some sort than individualism.

So far we are in agreement, but the bit which will make any modern scolar laugh is where Ben mentions that we should not cuss, even if the taxes be as much as ten percent. Ten percent? Yes, Ben, I wholeheartedly agree, I would not cuss anyone for providing rubbish collection, clean streets, decent roads and street lighting, for ten percent or less of my income. What I object to is the other forty percent they redistribute to the lazy and useless to remain, er, lazy and useless. It just shows how far backward the world has moved in three hundred years. I bet Ben never saw this kind of forced redistribution , ie theft, coming.

My personal belief in life

My core belief in life is that no man has any right whatsoever to the earnings or productivity of another man, unless the other man assigns him that right.

Obviously, in todays taxation nation society, this right is not being given, and in fact, governments probably need to become more understanding of the fact that many people today are outwardly resentful of the way others are helping themselves to their earnings, pruductivity and past earnt wealth.

Government is finished long term, simply because for now they choose to spend the earnings of the productive segment of society on schemes to secure the votes of the non-earning, parasitic portion of society.

In fact, the more you look into life in general, the more you realise everything is set up to steal your productivity and "redistribute" it to the lazy and the useless.

But thanks to the internet, globalisation, and the greater and freer movement of people, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Deep down, I'm quite optimistic that governments control over their more productive citizens is coming to an end, although there are many years of struggle on the way. It's a secret war that's already going on in many places, witness the USA and it's "patriot act", supposedly a law to counter terrorism, but really an attempt at controlling its citizens, or the EU savings directive.

Exciting and potentially troubling times ahead. I recommend we all watch governments like a hawk, and be prepared to move if the going gets too tough.