> I don't know what you mean by saying I'm not arguing out of principle
Let me put it another way. The efficacy and morality of taxation cannot be deduced via extrapolating historical economic and sociological data points. If a country has high taxes and is economically well off, that doesn't refute that taxation constitutes theft. It also doesn't prove that they couldn't have been better off with lesser or no taxes. Just because a region has low taxes or low regulation doesn't mean it's the epitome of what a decentralized society has to look like either. I can tell you think you have my ideology in a little libertarian box, but you're only fooling yourself.
As for your ticket, I'm not backing out -- but the condition is you have to stay. I'll buy your ticket and send it to you, but you have to put down a safety deposit on a mutually agreed upon arbitrator for the amount of $400. Every year you can prove residency you get $100 back. If you can't prove residency, I keep the remaining funds.
Right, and simply stating that taxes constitute theft isn't an argument either. What exactly is your argument? Because so far all I've gleaned is "waaaaah taxes."
And supposing I accept the fact that taxes are theft. If I can show with my stupid "evidence" and "historical record" that lack of government regulation has tended to cause oh say, slavery, genocide, and subjugation. Am I simply supposed to accept the risk of those because you can make the unfalsifiable claim that no taxes could theoretically lead to a different outcome? Why is theft the ultimate immorality in your ideology. Is the capitalist exploitation of the worker not theft?
So now you want me to put up twice the cost of the ticket and stay for at least four years? Somehow I don't think you made your initial offer in good faith. I'll accept if you lower the bond to the price of the ticket and stick to the initial one year (mostly because I sincerely doubt I could manage to stay in Cuba for 4 years without getting booted out). You can pick the escrow agent (obviously I'd prefer an established service).
Oh in just in case you think you've got my ideology in a box. I'm all for a decentralized government. I'd say I identify most closely with anarcho-syndicalism. But I do most definitely reject any sort of libertarian or capitalist ideology.
> Right, and simply stating that taxes constitute theft isn't an argument either.
1. I made observation X.
2. You argue observation X is wrong because Y and Z.
3. I claim arguments Y and Z don't negate observation X
4. You claim I don't offer any arguments besides "waaah taxes"
I just want you to realize how ridiculous your method of communication is. Your communication style reveals that you're more interested in being "right" than understanding why an argument is made. That's fine, but I'm not really interested in scoring fake debate points here. This isn't a debate -- and if it was, you would be in trouble. Instead of asking why I hold an observation to be true (thus, allowing me to make an argument for it), you immediately go on the offense, forcing me to rebuttal your arguments. I stopped responding because it became clear you're here to reaffirm your own ideology rather than discuss ideas.
X = If you do it, it's theft. If they do it, it's a tax.
Y = I will personally buy you a plane ticket to Somalia (or any other place with limited government)
Z = Imagine if the government hadn't invested it's tax revenue back into national defense and infrastructure for the past three centuries.
Let me put it another way. The efficacy and morality of taxation cannot be deduced via extrapolating historical economic and sociological data points. If a country has high taxes and is economically well off, that doesn't refute that taxation constitutes theft. It also doesn't prove that they couldn't have been better off with lesser or no taxes. Just because a region has low taxes or low regulation doesn't mean it's the epitome of what a decentralized society has to look like either. I can tell you think you have my ideology in a little libertarian box, but you're only fooling yourself.
As for your ticket, I'm not backing out -- but the condition is you have to stay. I'll buy your ticket and send it to you, but you have to put down a safety deposit on a mutually agreed upon arbitrator for the amount of $400. Every year you can prove residency you get $100 back. If you can't prove residency, I keep the remaining funds.