Libertarians are fond of saying taxation is theft. The inscription
on the Internal Revenue Service's building in Washington, DC says
that taxes are the price paid for a civilized society. Which is
right?

There can be no dispute that taxes have increased tremendously in
the United States over the last century. Have we seen a corresponding
increase in civility? I think not.

Is taxation theft? To the extent that the taxpayer is able and willing
to pay the taxes, then it cannot be characterized as theft. If the
taxpayer is not able or willing to pay the taxes, then the coercive
nature of taxation certainly parallels the actions of a thief, i.e.,
forcefully taking property belonging to another.

Can taxation be defended if it is the product of a democratic vote,
such as school or other property tax levies are? Not if the
individual taxpayer is unwilling or unable to pay, in my opinion.
Democracy is largely a sacred cow in this country, but majority
rule is often nothing more than mob rule. Democracy is two
wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. Will the vote
be fair to the minority sheep? How are the rights of the minority
protected?

What if a taxpayer has the means to pay taxes, but choses not to
for philosophical reasons: typically, the taxpayer objects to the
purpose for which the tax money is spent. Anti-war protesters are
often in this category. Pro-life people would rightfully object
to tax dollars being spent to fund abortions. What about the funding
of government schools, which serve to indoctrinate our youth with
propaganda which many may find objectionable? Thomas Jefferson
answered this question: "To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes
the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful
and tyrannical."

What happens if a homeowner fails to pay the real estate taxes, either
because he or she cannot afford them (these taxes have no relationship
to the owner's income or ability to pay) or because he or she cannot,
in good conscience, fund that which is found abhorent? The answer is
the government will foreclose on the house, auctioning it off to the
highest bidder.

Such tax sales are often touted as a way to get property cheap. But
these sheriff's sales are really nothing more than a thief selling
the purloined goods. And the buyers are receiving stolen property.
"Receiving stolen property" is a crime, except when the government is
the one doing the stealing. But even if the government sanctions
theft and receiving stolen property, one will have to, in the end,
answer to God for one's actions.

If you find the property tax system in this country unjust, here is
a petition to abolish it:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/endpropertytaxes/