Is taxation theft?

Because of the whole Tax Day postponement thing, I should be able to get away with talking about Tax Day stuff some more.

I often see or hear the phrase, "taxation is theft." Being a conservative and having more than a few conservative friends, that shouldn't surprise me. However, I'm pretty sure I can't endorse that view.

If the state is run by a king or emperor, you might be able to say it. If the state is run by a government that came to power through anything other than consent of the governed, you might be able to say it. However, in the United States, the citizens are given opportunities to participate.

For example, this year, we're having primaries or caucuses with multiple political parties, then conventions, and then the general election in November, all to determine who will serve in just one office for just 4 years. There are also nominating processes under way for every seat in Congress and about a third of the seats in the Senate which also culminate in the general election in November. And this doesn't even scratch the surface of all the different state and local offices that are constantly being elected or reelected across the country.

We have opportunities to serve in these offices or to select who we want to serve in our name. We have opportunities to petition them while they serve to influence their decisions. Granted, that IS a lot of work but whether we do the work or not is up to us individually.

The bottom line is that while taxation is determined by those who govern, those who govern are determined by those who participate. In other words, we tax ourselves. If you want to change taxes, you have to change the government.

Taxation isn't theft.