rpk@mit-eddie.UUCP (Robert Krajewski) (04/21/84)
The question is: Suppose taxes that supported anything more than a minimal government were voluntary -- would you pay them ? Would you feel like a sucker if you paid them but others didn't ? A minimal government for the purposes of this question: Police force to protect property, enforce Lockean rights (force against murder, fraud, robbery, rape, etc.) A judicial system to arbitrate disputes. Armed forces and foreign service enough to ensure the territorial integrity of the United States. (Assume this includes NORAD and enough nukes to make anybody think twice.) Call this a G0 government (though one might be able to cut back even this...) Suppose we add: Infrastructure support (roads, etc.) Regulation of ``natural monopolies,'' plus safety laws Transfer payments (welfare up to 75-100% of the poverty level, but not Social Security) Education up secondary level (12th grade, but no institutions of higher learning) This is G1 government. Would you voluntarily pay for anything more than this ? Please realise the following aren't included: DoD/science research, NATO, Social Security, subsidies, postal service subsidy, arts funding, secondary education funding/aid, foreign military bases, foreign aid of any kind, UN payments. Please reply via mail to me. I'll post the answers in two weeks. -- ``Bob'' (Robert P. Krajewski) ARPA: RpK@MC MIT Local: RpK@OZ UUCP: genradbo!miteddie!rpk or genradbo!miteddie!mitvax!rpk