tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.comments2023-07-05T16:11:30.012-07:00<Insert title here>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820590356364863913noreply@blogger.comBlogger6826125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-70589363036326989962023-07-05T16:09:54.880-07:002023-07-05T16:09:54.880-07:00If you make $10,000 in one year, taking away one t...If you make $10,000 in one year, taking away one thousand is going to drastically affect your ability to get food, pay rent, etc. If you make a million you'll still have $900,000, plenty to provide for you and a family. In this sense, the 10% flat tax is only fair abstractly but in reality is unkind, immoral, and against God's wishes for how we care for one another.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-58824081146378739362023-05-27T16:37:04.129-07:002023-05-27T16:37:04.129-07:00Nice post thank you MarelisNice post thank you MarelisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-64859328796033557602018-05-03T09:16:42.738-07:002018-05-03T09:16:42.738-07:00I haven't written anything of note since my la...I haven't written anything of note since my last post here. I sort of gave up on politics because I found all of the negativity surrounding it made me angry all the time. I started to pursue the intersection of government and Christianity as a topic to explore (as you can see from the most recent posts), but that never really got off the ground.<br /><br />I hope to return to writing at some point, but it will likely be over a much broader range of topics than what is currently here.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820590356364863913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-60543435127534725962018-05-01T06:23:27.118-07:002018-05-01T06:23:27.118-07:00I bookmarked your TSA experience from 2010. I came...I bookmarked your TSA experience from 2010. I came to visit your blog to see if you're still writing, as I enjoy both your courage and your writing. Are you posting in a different forum these days?Carol Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08064105539712361322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-7742802475628927362013-10-06T09:19:18.668-07:002013-10-06T09:19:18.668-07:00In my experience, including an exemption for the p...In my experience, including an exemption for the poor in a flat-tax argument is just a concession to statists who aren't ready to give up on redistribution.<br /><br />On the other hand, I'd much prefer a 10% flat tax with an exemption for the poor to the system we have today.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02069075602578774079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-71132965116040715592012-08-06T08:45:49.140-07:002012-08-06T08:45:49.140-07:00@August 5, 2012 9:32 AM: The state only purports t...@August 5, 2012 9:32 AM: The state only purports to represent the people as whole. Many voted for the "other guy"; many don't vote at all. There are plenty who don't wish for the state to represent them at all. The state is nothing more than an organized monopoly of force wielded by 50%+1 of the population.<br /><br />There are a million different ways that your private street scenario could play out. They neighbors could buy out the deadbeat and fix his section for him. They could re-route the road. Perhaps the (entire) road is owned by or could be sold to a third party and paid for with tolls. The list could go on forever. And in every scenario, the deadbeat could be punished simply by ostracism. What if, because he wouldn't fix his section of the road, his neighbor's restaurant will no longer serve him? The bank won't extend him credit? No force is necessary, if the deadbeat doesn't want to participate in society, then society need not extend him the same courtesy. I imagine he'd come around pretty quickly or move out of the area.<br /><br />There is no such thing as the "greater good" because such a thing is unknowable. One person or group of people could not tease out what is best for billions of other individuals. It's a fiction that keeps the masses in line.<br /><br />Finally, I see what you did here: "many people do not have the same attitude as you, in wanting to be a contributing or reasonable member of society". I would argue that the idea of the state is detrimental and unreasonable in civil society. What kind of society sets up a criminal entity to steal the population's money and use it as it sees fit, that institutionalizes and legalizes theft and violence within the very organization that purports to protect the population from these things and then has the gall to call itself civil and peaceful?Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820590356364863913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-88241504354624205012012-08-06T08:26:43.892-07:002012-08-06T08:26:43.892-07:00@August 5, 2012 9:03 AM: You're missing the po...@August 5, 2012 9:03 AM: You're missing the point. What about the people who, for whatever reason, don't have or don't want health insurance? They've been co-opted into the system against their will. Their liberty, in this area, has been taken from them.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820590356364863913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-60476235856596824722012-08-05T09:32:12.336-07:002012-08-05T09:32:12.336-07:00I understand the logic, however - the state enforc...I understand the logic, however - the state enforces it because it represents the people as a whole.<br /><br />Imagine you live in a private street. The road is private and maintained by the citizens. Everyone agrees to maintain the road between themselves.. and then one day, one guy on the street decides he can't afford to pay his share and doesn't. Does the road not get fixed? Does the rest of the street try to enforce the agreement? Kick him out?<br /><br />I agree with your logic completely; the state is in many ways a bully-boy - but they're doing it for "the greater good". The taxation system certainly lets the bigger boys pay less of their lunch money.. but many, many people do not have the same attitude as you, in wanting to be a contributing or reasonable member of society.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-16086448927226786182012-08-05T09:03:18.190-07:002012-08-05T09:03:18.190-07:00In australia we have global health care, and if we...In australia we have global health care, and if we choose to take out private health insurance (amusingly, lately private health providers haven't really been offering much better care than the government.. since so many people are opting out of government care for whatever perceived benefits they get instead), we receive a tax refund as we didn't use the government system. <br /><br />Actually considering how much the people who don't want government health care in america also hate paying tax, they should be very keen to have a tax break when they purchase their own private health insurance. See?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-76789838365044821752012-07-19T16:40:23.721-07:002012-07-19T16:40:23.721-07:00wow, I'm shocked.. I owe you an apology.wow, I'm shocked.. I owe you an apology.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-18073394850159465132012-07-19T15:56:56.144-07:002012-07-19T15:56:56.144-07:00@July 19, 2012 3:22 PM: Probably not a very good o...@July 19, 2012 3:22 PM: Probably not a very good one in many people's eyes, but yes.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820590356364863913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-39346479907841204182012-07-19T15:56:03.865-07:002012-07-19T15:56:03.865-07:00@JG: In theory, that's possible now. Taxes don...@JG: In theory, that's possible now. Taxes don't need to be voluntary in order for people to "vote with their feet" by moving to a place where the tax burden is lower or the tax money is spent on relatively less objectionable things. In fact you can see people leaving California in droves for the first time in a long time for that very reason. California is an interesting case as described here: <br />http://www.volokh.com/2011/07/05/california-dreamin-of-secession/ I find the linked article interesting because it talks about how people *should* be able to vote with their feet, but California's favorable geographic location and climate causes many people to put up with more than they otherwise would, government-wise, all other things being equal.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820590356364863913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-54428793075383717492012-07-19T15:22:02.244-07:002012-07-19T15:22:02.244-07:00You are a Christian?You are a Christian?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-41094412147336563542012-07-13T17:54:58.738-07:002012-07-13T17:54:58.738-07:00How about every citizen, including the poor, pay 1...How about every citizen, including the poor, pay 10% of their income as taxes but only on a completely voluntary basis? <br /><br />Citizens who support how their tax money is being spent would happily send in the tax. Those who oppose the way it is being spent would not mail any in. <br /><br />If tax rates are too high in a state, people will move to states with less taxes.JGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06553242772788957467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-47147482520999947702012-04-16T11:28:17.676-07:002012-04-16T11:28:17.676-07:00Johny, I'm curious about where this line of th...Johny, I'm curious about where this line of thought ends for you: should there be no government? If so what role should it play? How does it finance those activities? I really enjoy reading your blog,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-28923781709708080352012-04-16T08:22:10.758-07:002012-04-16T08:22:10.758-07:00About two days after this post, the twitter accoun...About two days after this post, the twitter account went dark (or at least I can't see it anymore). My next step was actually to set up an account and tweet this person to work something out. Since this is no longer an option, I contacted twitter, but I haven't heard a peep out of them.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820590356364863913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-12406585789631871522012-04-16T01:15:49.844-07:002012-04-16T01:15:49.844-07:00Maybe, maybe not. I don't think that is releva...Maybe, maybe not. I don't think that is relevant when they are violating Twitter terms of use - by looking at the profile, it is clear they are impersonating you (https://support.twitter.com/entries/106373#). If I were you I would report them for impersonation if you haven't already... (https://support.twitter.com/forms/impersonation)new readernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-6570388353364568032012-04-11T22:42:26.719-07:002012-04-11T22:42:26.719-07:00I appreciate the thoughts expressed in this post. ...I appreciate the thoughts expressed in this post. It seems logic, rationale, and common sense are vanishing, especially in main stream journalism. But what do we do about the TSA and our shrinking liberty? It's overwhelming to think about. <br />BTW, thank you for standing up and for writing this blog. Your posts are refreshing and thought provoking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-32480805211158296952012-04-06T20:46:42.957-07:002012-04-06T20:46:42.957-07:00I don't know, but something about that seems v...I don't know, but something about that seems very unlibertarian to me.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820590356364863913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-46976203116337506712012-04-06T19:15:35.878-07:002012-04-06T19:15:35.878-07:00Can't you claim it from Twitter. Clearly someo...Can't you claim it from Twitter. Clearly someone is camping on your moniker.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718266524335017117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-71318606728534188702012-04-05T00:08:36.199-07:002012-04-05T00:08:36.199-07:00It is interesting that regardless of how completel...It is interesting that regardless of how completely the Constitution is ignored, every so often an issue comes along that seems to be too much to swallow, in this case apparently five Supreme Court justices cannot wrap their minds around the concept that the Federal government could force us all to join a gym, subscribe to cell phone service, or eat broccoli. Unfortunately, however, the same Supreme Court would probably be just fine with a Federal law that forbids anyone from joining a gym that is not on an approved list and for a regulated price and/or levying a general tax the proceeds of which will provide a free gym membership to everyone. Whatever. Pretty much a distinction without a difference, but it's nice to see them bridling at something.Alan Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09144313758560375165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-40201702643543557972012-04-02T09:20:57.836-07:002012-04-02T09:20:57.836-07:00Makes me never want to fly again. The ironic thing...Makes me never want to fly again. The ironic thing is that the real terrorists would not make a big deal but probably agree to be groped; it's the citizens that have a problem with the x-rays... so the system may not be catching the bad guys as much as they think...Toyota San Diegohttp://www.toyotacarlsbad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-53850637738260231062012-02-03T10:51:03.155-08:002012-02-03T10:51:03.155-08:00"Thus, government will ultimately be populate..."Thus, government will ultimately be populated with the worst people in society..."<br /><br />Indeed. This is why I've always been in favor of amending the constitution to include "terminal limits" for all members of Congress. No, that was not a typo. After their term(s) is(are) up, they are gently and humanly put to death. Thus only the most dedicated amongst us will consent to run for Congress. Which may not make it better overall, but will certainly cut down on the number of ex-Congressmen working as lobbyists.TPRJoneshttp://tprjones.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-76558927786480359312012-01-23T07:28:39.010-08:002012-01-23T07:28:39.010-08:00Assuming you have heard that Rand Paul is currentl...Assuming you have heard that Rand Paul is currently being detained by TSA at Nashville airport.Babes of Bloodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10482096996743403657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617209358263472725.post-38246230103889511592012-01-02T09:12:07.857-08:002012-01-02T09:12:07.857-08:00@Dragonater: You're talking about homeowners a...@Dragonater: You're talking about homeowners associations under the existing system whose power and legitimacy I described as "muddy", at best, given state interference. I'm no fan of homeowners associations, having lived in places where they existed, but there is no reason to believe that associations of this type could not be a legitimate, voluntary, and peaceful way for homeowners to protect their neighborhoods against eyesores or other undesirable uses of the property around them absent state interference.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820590356364863913noreply@blogger.com