Mostly, but unless you're a salaried worker, there are often multiple interpretations with differing tax consequences. You pick the least taxes, the authorities pick the most taxed, and you battle it out in a playground in which the authorities have the upper hand.
> If you don't pay them you don't risk physical harm.
Tax collection is underwritten by the police, jail system, and eventually the US army if it would come to that. I would disagree with the "don't risk physical harm" aspect. Theoretically, you shouldn't. Practically, if you go to jail (and you WOULD if you don't pay your taxes), you risk very significant physical harm. The process is longer, and the agents are varied, but the risk is there.
> Also you generally pay taxes on income and salaries, you don't have to pay just to be there.
Don't buy the propaganda. Even if we disregard property taxes, which most countries and states have one way or another, the way they tax you just to "be there" is by debasing the currency.
Two years ago, $700 would have bought you an ounce of gold. Today, they buy less than half. And that's not some uncontrolled natural phenomenon - that has been orchestrated by the Fed.
You've been taxed just for being there, somewhere between 50% and 20% in the last two years, in addition to all other taxes you pay.
Assume you want to opt out of the game, by buying gold? Well, when you try to convert it back to dollars (to buy food or whatever), you'll being paying capital gains tax. Between 15% and 48%, depending on the state in the US you are, and how well you can do your taxes.
You are paying just to be there. If you believe otherwise, you might want to learn more about it.
Even if we disregard property taxes, which most countries and states have one way or another, the way they tax you just to "be there" is by debasing the currency.
Two years ago, $700 would have bought you an ounce of gold. Today, they buy less than half.
That has absolutely nothing to do with inflation, so I'm not sure why you're conflating the two points, it really weakens your position.
As for the government not being allowed to "tax you just to be there", what on earth makes you think that your money is yours? Money and wealth are social constructs. If you want them, you have to accept the social obligations that come with them.
Get rid of government, and your money (gold or otherwise) is entirely worthless. The only thing of value without some form of government is either a sack of potatoes, or a sword to steal your neighbours' potatoes.
> That has absolutely nothing to do with inflation, so I'm not sure why you're conflating the two points, it really weakens your position.
I did not mention the word "inflation" in my post, and I'm not sure why you did. There are many sources of inflation, one of which is currency debasing, which is the only one that I referred to.
> As for the government not being allowed to "tax you just to be there", what on earth makes you think that your money is yours? Money and wealth are social constructs. If you want them, you have to accept the social obligations that come with them.
I didn't say they are not allowed - but the post I was replying to stated that "only the mafia taxes you for being there, governments don't", which is false (and I gave examples for that).
I don't have a problem with being "taxed just to be there". I do have a problem that the way this tax is applied is essentially (a) hidden from view and (b) decided by 5-10 people in every country, who usually have the banking system's best interests in mind. Currency debasing is a taxation method that hurts the people who saved, and rewards the people who were living on credit (that is, beyond their means). I don't know about you, but I think it is a horrible policy.
> Get rid of government, and your money (gold or otherwise) is entirely worthless. The only thing of value without some form of government is either a sack of potatoes, or a sword to steal your neighbours' potatoes.
As WalterBright remarked, gold is a surprisingly good store of wealth over the last 2000 years or so, and has kept its buying power despite political and economical changes that have rendered fiat money worthless.
(No, I can't understand it, and it might not maintain that value in the future -- but disregarding thousands of years of history just because they make no sense is also not a good strategy)
Also you generally pay taxes on income and salaries, you don't have to pay just to be there.