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Taxes are a scam

Will Prowse

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Endless fraud going on with our tax dollars. And if they run out, they print more and devalue existing dollars. We need to boycott taxes. The only reason they ratified the 16th amendment was because they had a super majority in Congress. It's not American to pay income taxes. We need to boycott this system. We need to do it together.
 
Endless fraud going on with our tax dollars. And if they run out, they print more and devalue existing dollars. We need to boycott taxes. The only reason they ratified the 16th amendment was because they had a super majority in Congress. It's not American to pay income taxes. We need to boycott this system. We need to do it together.
Couldn't agree more 👍🏻
 
I understand taxes. But there should be massive limits on what they can be spent on.

And it's a catch 22.

While I would say limit tax spending to things like infrastructure, biden spent 42 billion dollars in a "broadband for all" rollout that didn't connect anyone to the internet, it all got eaten up by planning and lawyers and people lining their pockets with my tax dollars without doing anything.

The pentagon failed audits 5 years in a row, they can't account for any of the money they are spending.

We pay more in taxes while having nothing to show for it.

So yeah, no more taxes.
 
It hurts my mind and soul when I realize the amount of taxes I will pay in my entire lifetime is like a tiny drop in the bucket of some random single USAID payment shipped out to some far-flung country's government to sit in the pockets of their leaders.

And then worse when I think about how much my quality of life would be improved if those dollars were spent on something that even remotely improves the lives of me and my loved ones.
 
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We are learning a lot about you outside of battery teardowns and DIY batteries this year, Will. It has been fascinating. I love when you tell us and show us the other things going on in your life outside of the great work you do here. The medical stuff, the car stuff, all great to get to know you a bit better.

Taxes...well, even if some agree with abolishing taxes in the USA, or disagree with how the money is spent or printed when more is needed, it is a controversial subject for sure. I have read through the caselaw on this and how people have tried for years to avoid paying all taxes and no one being successful in any of their cases brought before the supreme court that I am aware of.

Firearms, anti-tax, bunker...tell us more, Will. Are you also stockpiling food (I have some)? Capturing rain and have your own water storage tanks (I do in Mexico)? Backup gas/diesel/propane generator (not me)? Attending prepper conferences (no interest)? Deeply religious/conservative, or anti god/religion? Might as well cover it all.
 
We are learning a lot about you outside of battery teardowns and DIY batteries this year, Will. It has been fascinating. I love when you tell us and show us the other things going on in your life outside of the great work you do here. The medical stuff, the car stuff, all great to get to know you a bit better.

Taxes...well, even if some agree with abolishing taxes in the USA, or disagree with how the money is spent or printed when more is needed, it is a controversial subject for sure. I have read through the caselaw on this and how people have tried for years to avoid paying all taxes and no one being successful in any of their cases brought before the supreme court that I am aware of.

Firearms, anti-tax, bunker...tell us more, Will. Are you also stockpiling food (I have some)? Capturing rain and have your own water storage tanks (I do in Mexico)? Backup gas/diesel/propane generator (not me)? Attending prepper conferences (no interest)? Deeply religious/conservative, or anti god/religion? Might as well cover it all.
The assumptions made on my political or religious leanings are usually wrong lol funny how certain behaviors make people associate one with various narratives or groups. I just read a lot of history. And I can substantiate my reasoning for every priority I have currently.
 
I think if enough people start a movement now, by the time everyone needs to file next year, we can make a sizeable resistance. The payroll taxes and estimated taxes is the hardest. Need to convince business owners first that we shouldn't pay.
 
I think if enough people start a movement now, by the time everyone needs to file next year, we can make a sizeable resistance. The payroll taxes and estimated taxes is the hardest. Need to convince business owners first that we shouldn't pay.
I think axing property taxes would be first in my book. I don't like that we are practically forced to rent from the government.

If someone goes to the lengths to finally own their home outright, the government certainly shouldn't be able to wrench that out from under them for not paying Uncle Sam rent.
 
I think if enough people start a movement now, by the time everyone needs to file next year, we can make a sizeable resistance. The payroll taxes and estimated taxes is the hardest. Need to convince business owners first that we shouldn't pay.
So what taxes are you opposed to? Income tax? Sales tax? Property tax? Corporate tax? Payroll tax? Funeral tax?
 
So what taxes are you opposed to? Income tax? Sales tax? Property tax? Corporate tax? Payroll tax? Funeral tax?
Most of those actually. Should be zero. America was fine running that way for hundreds of years. The government shouldn't be large enough for you to care what they do. What matters is the actual people of the country. The government cannot fix our issues.

It's so funny when people want to tax the billionaires thinking it will change something. Isn't the government in bed with them? So giving them even more money is supposed to help something? 😂 Lacks logic

I think state and county level taxes that I vote for are fine. Not income. Just how it was before.

I also like free markets. Zero tarrifs. There were issues in the 1800's that led us to impose them. And the liquidity crisis's in the 1800s also led to formation of the federal reserve. Central bankers in Europe were screwing us over big time. Its pretty wild we survived after war of 1812. If British weren't so focused on Napoleon, they might have wiped us out. We were very weak as a nation for most of our history.

I'm a staunch advocate for the Monroe doctrine of 1823. Are you? I am anti imperialist and anti communist. Just to give you an idea of my values.
 
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Thank you for sharing, Will. I don’t mind paying some taxes. When I think of things like the sewer pipes or sewer, treatment, plants, or the gas pipelines or the paved streets or the street lights that I benefit from, I know that I did not pay for any of those. I also didn’t pay for the stoplight or stop signs to try to create some order. I’m grateful for things like interstate freeway system. But with as much as we pay for gasoline tax out here in California, where you also once lived, I would think that the roads would have far fewer potholes, and the infrastructure would not be as out of date as it is.

I’m all about free markets as well. I also think that we should not charge people a higher percentage of tax if they earn higher income. I have found that any friends or business associates that I have who have obtained a ridiculously high net worth are very generous, and are willing to share their time, their talents, and their resources, including money. Allowing millionaires and billionaires to support philanthropic causes that they are passionate about is fantastic. But the notion of giving more and more to the government to take care of some of the world’s problems is a little bit ridiculous. There is room for improvement on efficiency and ways to lower costs and to streamline business processes.

I think that sometimes in the United States people just get stuck doing things the way they always have been done. And that’s really unfortunate.
 
Endless fraud going on with our tax dollars. And if they run out, they print more and devalue existing dollars. We need to boycott taxes. The only reason they ratified the 16th amendment was because they had a super majority in Congress. It's not American to pay income taxes. We need to boycott this system. We need to do it together.
Its just a huge waste to everyone's time.
They have always been printing money, so why not just print more to cover what all the different tax flavors are presently taking from us.
Good for small business, save a ton on government tax staff, & you get to see the real value of your currency via inflation.
 
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Most of those actually. Should be zero. America was fine running that way for hundreds of years. The government shouldn't be large enough for you to care what they do. What matters is the actual people of the country. The government cannot fix our issues.

It's so funny when people want to tax the billionaires thinking it will change something. Isn't the government in bed with them? So giving them even more money is supposed to help something? 😂 Lacks logic

I think state and county level taxes that I vote for are fine. Not income. Just how it was before.

I also like free markets. Zero tarrifs. There were issues in the 1800's that led us to impose them. And the liquidity crisis's in the 1800s also led to formation of the federal reserve. Central bankers in Europe were screwing us over big time. Its pretty wild we survived after war of 1812. If British weren't so focused on Napoleon, they might have wiped us out. We were very weak as a nation for most of our history.

I'm a staunch advocate for the Monroe doctrine of 1823. Are you? I am anti imperialist and anti communist. Just to give you an idea of my value.
I agree with you on nearly all cases. If you're waiting on the government to solve your probelms, you're going to be waiting a long time.

I don't agree with tariffs in principal. However china is subsidizing their products to essentially free, and american companies have no way to compete with that. Yes, I love free stuff. But at what cost?

There is one thing that the federal government should collect taxes for, and that's the most powerful and advanced military in the world. Our stuff has continue'd to advance while russia is stuck in the cold war, we could steamroll them. However, china just got a 20 year boost thanks to what we left in afghanistan. Granted it wasn't our best, but better than they have.

I am strictly anti communist and anti imperialist. I think everyone should be their own responsibility. I don't think the government should have any say in what I do on my property or with my property.

I was in the township building the other day for some permit stuff, and i heard one old lady say to the other old lady "he shouldn't be allowed to do that, we have these rules to protect him". And I must have been visibly moved by it because without me saying a word, the guy in line next to me said "calm down, it's ok".
 
I think if enough people start a movement now, by the time everyone needs to file next year, we can make a sizeable resistance. The payroll taxes and estimated taxes is the hardest. Need to convince business owners first that we shouldn't pay.
i pay taxes to two countries... I feel your pain, but mine is a dual pronged pain, I get nothing from the US, and as I cannot vote in japan it really gives me nothing special either. yet i pay both.
 
Look at our current spending deficit:
Screenshot_20250319-075221.png
Why pay taxes when they print the majority of federal income revenue? Our income tax is mainly for compliance and it lacks representation. When did a politician represent your views when they approved corporate bailouts, bombing Vietnam for 20 years, killing a million afghanis, overthrowing multiple countries and destroying Libya and Gaddafi to secure the petrol dollar.

Why are people ok with this money being spent like this, without our consent?
 
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Taxes are scam (Especially property taxes, you truly already own nothing!)
So is government. Government is mafia - they have the monopoly of force to take stuff away from you and make you do things you dont want.

And people keep voting for more government and defend their favorite puppets in chief despite the fact that the only things puppets in chief do is screw them over.


Really quite amazing!
 
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This is my opinion on taxes -- probably not the popular opinion on here but to me more reality based.


Taxes are the foundation of a functioning society, funding essential infrastructure and services—roads, utilities, defense, education, and countless other public goods. While the debate over taxation is often polarized, one thing is clear: eliminating one form of tax will inevitably lead to increases elsewhere.

For example:
  • If income tax were abolished, sales or property taxes would need to rise to compensate, shifting the financial burden in ways that may not be equitable.
  • Sales taxes are inherently regressive, disproportionately affecting lower-income individuals who spend a greater percentage of their earnings on necessities.
  • Property taxes are somewhat more neutral but can still be regressive if home values do not align with an owner’s ability to pay.
  • Flat income taxes disproportionately impact lower-income earners unless significant exemptions—such as exempting the first $80,000 of income—are introduced. Without such measures, the burden of taxation falls largely on the middle class.
A More Fair Tax System

If true fairness were the goal, taxation should be:
✅ On all income sources – wages, investments, dividends, capital gains, and any other earnings.
✅ Without deductions or loopholes – ensuring everyone pays their fair share.


One of the biggest loopholes benefiting the wealthy is the ability to:
  • Use owned assets as collateral to borrow money, allowing them to live virtually tax-free.
  • Upon their death, their assets receive a stepped-up basis, meaning that their property value increase over a lifetime goes untaxed if sold.
    🔹 Eliminating this loophole would be a major step toward a more equitable tax system.
Government Inefficiencies and Waste

Government waste is a legitimate concern. First-hand experience in the military revealed shocking inefficiencies:
  • Basic supplies—bolts, screws, and nuts—purchased at 10x their retail price due to bureaucratic procurement processes.
  • Justification? MIL-SPEC standards requiring excessive testing and certification, even for items that didn’t need it.
  • A hammer, for example, should simply be a hammer—meeting reasonable material and durability standards.
A better approach?
  • Allow bulk purchasing based on common specifications.
  • Conduct random sample testing instead of excessive certifications.
  • Reform government procurement to eliminate excessive bid requirements that drive up costs and allow for corruption.

Federal vs. Local Tax Collection and Spending


A fundamental economic principle:
  • The federal government is the most efficient entity for collecting taxes.
  • Local governments are the most efficient at spending tax revenue.

Example: Federal Highway System
  • Northeastern states pay far more into the federal highway fund than they receive.
  • Rural states like Texas, Arizona, and Nevada receive more funding than they contribute to maintain vast highway networks.
  • While this redistribution is necessary, it highlights inefficiencies in centralized tax allocation.

How Do We Fund National Defense Without Taxes?

If not through taxation, how do we:
  • Fund the military?
  • Protect against external threats?

Historically, the U.S. initially operated without income tax, relying on state-collected property taxes—a system that aligned with the era when only landowners had voting rights. However, during World War II, federal personal income tax was introduced to finance the war effort, though the first federal income tax actually began during the Civil War in 1861 and was later codified with the 16th Amendment in 1913.

Even President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned against unchecked military spending, stating:

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.”

Structural Reforms for Fair Governance


If fairness in governance were truly the goal, several reforms should be implemented:

1. Term Limits for Elected Officials

  • Senators: Maximum six 2-year terms.
  • House Representatives: Maximum three 6-year terms.
  • Judiciary: Maximum 20-year terms, with the option to reapply for reappointment.
2. Campaign Finance Reform
  • PACs and lobbyists should be barred from direct campaign contributions.
  • Instead, all campaign funding should come from a single, publicly managed fund, allocated equally based on qualifying support levels—ensuring a level playing field.
3. Outlaw Gerrymandering
The most fair districting system would involve:
  • A nonpartisan committee of 12, composed of:
    • 4 members from each major party
    • 4 randomly selected citizens
  • This would ensure fair, unbiased representation, preventing manipulation for political advantage.
 
When did a politician represent your views when they approved corporate bailouts, bombing Vietnam for 20 years, killing a million afghanis, overthrowing multiple countries and destroying Libya and Gaddafi to secure the petrol dollar.
Never but abolishing tax won’t change that.
 
This is my opinion on taxes -- probably not the popular opinion on here but to me more reality based.


Taxes are the foundation of a functioning society, funding essential infrastructure and services—roads, utilities, defense, education, and countless other public goods. While the debate over taxation is often polarized, one thing is clear: eliminating one form of tax will inevitably lead to increases elsewhere.

For example:
  • If income tax were abolished, sales or property taxes would need to rise to compensate, shifting the financial burden in ways that may not be equitable.
  • Sales taxes are inherently regressive, disproportionately affecting lower-income individuals who spend a greater percentage of their earnings on necessities.
  • Property taxes are somewhat more neutral but can still be regressive if home values do not align with an owner’s ability to pay.
  • Flat income taxes disproportionately impact lower-income earners unless significant exemptions—such as exempting the first $80,000 of income—are introduced. Without such measures, the burden of taxation falls largely on the middle class.
A More Fair Tax System

If true fairness were the goal, taxation should be:
✅ On all income sources – wages, investments, dividends, capital gains, and any other earnings.
✅ Without deductions or loopholes – ensuring everyone pays their fair share.


One of the biggest loopholes benefiting the wealthy is the ability to:
  • Use owned assets as collateral to borrow money, allowing them to live virtually tax-free.
  • Upon their death, their assets receive a stepped-up basis, meaning that their property value increase over a lifetime goes untaxed if sold.
    🔹 Eliminating this loophole would be a major step toward a more equitable tax system.
Government Inefficiencies and Waste

Government waste is a legitimate concern. First-hand experience in the military revealed shocking inefficiencies:
  • Basic supplies—bolts, screws, and nuts—purchased at 10x their retail price due to bureaucratic procurement processes.
  • Justification? MIL-SPEC standards requiring excessive testing and certification, even for items that didn’t need it.
  • A hammer, for example, should simply be a hammer—meeting reasonable material and durability standards.
A better approach?
  • Allow bulk purchasing based on common specifications.
  • Conduct random sample testing instead of excessive certifications.
  • Reform government procurement to eliminate excessive bid requirements that drive up costs and allow for corruption.

Federal vs. Local Tax Collection and Spending


A fundamental economic principle:
  • The federal government is the most efficient entity for collecting taxes.
  • Local governments are the most efficient at spending tax revenue.

Example: Federal Highway System
  • Northeastern states pay far more into the federal highway fund than they receive.
  • Rural states like Texas, Arizona, and Nevada receive more funding than they contribute to maintain vast highway networks.
  • While this redistribution is necessary, it highlights inefficiencies in centralized tax allocation.

How Do We Fund National Defense Without Taxes?

If not through taxation, how do we:
  • Fund the military?
  • Protect against external threats?

Historically, the U.S. initially operated without income tax, relying on state-collected property taxes—a system that aligned with the era when only landowners had voting rights. However, during World War II, federal personal income tax was introduced to finance the war effort, though the first federal income tax actually began during the Civil War in 1861 and was later codified with the 16th Amendment in 1913.

Even President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned against unchecked military spending, stating:



Structural Reforms for Fair Governance


If fairness in governance were truly the goal, several reforms should be implemented:

1. Term Limits for Elected Officials

  • Senators: Maximum six 2-year terms.
  • House Representatives: Maximum three 6-year terms.
  • Judiciary: Maximum 20-year terms, with the option to reapply for reappointment.
2. Campaign Finance Reform
  • PACs and lobbyists should be barred from direct campaign contributions.
  • Instead, all campaign funding should come from a single, publicly managed fund, allocated equally based on qualifying support levels—ensuring a level playing field.
3. Outlaw Gerrymandering
The most fair districting system would involve:
  • A nonpartisan committee of 12, composed of:
    • 4 members from each major party
    • 4 randomly selected citizens
  • This would ensure fair, unbiased representation, preventing manipulation for political advantage.
Taxes are relatively high here in Spain but we have healthcare that’s free at the point of use & higher education is free or really cheap, as is public transportation. We gave up driving to airports or big cities years ago- a 3 hour journey on a European style long distance bus costs about €25 return. As much as we complain about taxes we should remember what happened & is happening in the UK as folks were convinced that a 2 or 3 % tax cut would benefit everyone as public services disappeared.Tax cuts favour the wealthiest & if you don’t have a private jet, helicopter, indoor heated pool level of income it will come back to bite you. Tax the oligarchs ✊
 
Look at our current spending deficit:
View attachment 286203
Why pay taxes when they print the majority of federal tax revenue? Our income tax is mainly for compliance and it lacks representation. When did a politician represent your views when they approved corporate bailouts, bombing Vietnam for 20 years, killing a million afghanis, overthrowing multiple countries and destroying Libya and Gaddafi to secure the petrol dollar.

Why are people ok with this money being spent like this, without our consent?
Exactly - power to create money should go back to congress - then we won't need to borrow and be slave to banks anymore (in addition to no more funding of wars)
 
This is my opinion on taxes -- probably not the popular opinion on here but to me more reality based.


Taxes are the foundation of a functioning society, funding essential infrastructure and services—roads, utilities, defense, education, and countless other public goods. While the debate over taxation is often polarized, one thing is clear: eliminating one form of tax will inevitably lead to increases elsewhere.

For example:
  • If income tax were abolished, sales or property taxes would need to rise to compensate, shifting the financial burden in ways that may not be equitable.
  • Sales taxes are inherently regressive, disproportionately affecting lower-income individuals who spend a greater percentage of their earnings on necessities.
  • Property taxes are somewhat more neutral but can still be regressive if home values do not align with an owner’s ability to pay.
  • Flat income taxes disproportionately impact lower-income earners unless significant exemptions—such as exempting the first $80,000 of income—are introduced. Without such measures, the burden of taxation falls largely on the middle class.
A More Fair Tax System

If true fairness were the goal, taxation should be:
✅ On all income sources – wages, investments, dividends, capital gains, and any other earnings.
✅ Without deductions or loopholes – ensuring everyone pays their fair share.


One of the biggest loopholes benefiting the wealthy is the ability to:
  • Use owned assets as collateral to borrow money, allowing them to live virtually tax-free.
  • Upon their death, their assets receive a stepped-up basis, meaning that their property value increase over a lifetime goes untaxed if sold.
    🔹 Eliminating this loophole would be a major step toward a more equitable tax system.
Government Inefficiencies and Waste

Government waste is a legitimate concern. First-hand experience in the military revealed shocking inefficiencies:
  • Basic supplies—bolts, screws, and nuts—purchased at 10x their retail price due to bureaucratic procurement processes.
  • Justification? MIL-SPEC standards requiring excessive testing and certification, even for items that didn’t need it.
  • A hammer, for example, should simply be a hammer—meeting reasonable material and durability standards.
A better approach?
  • Allow bulk purchasing based on common specifications.
  • Conduct random sample testing instead of excessive certifications.
  • Reform government procurement to eliminate excessive bid requirements that drive up costs and allow for corruption.

Federal vs. Local Tax Collection and Spending


A fundamental economic principle:
  • The federal government is the most efficient entity for collecting taxes.
  • Local governments are the most efficient at spending tax revenue.

Example: Federal Highway System
  • Northeastern states pay far more into the federal highway fund than they receive.
  • Rural states like Texas, Arizona, and Nevada receive more funding than they contribute to maintain vast highway networks.
  • While this redistribution is necessary, it highlights inefficiencies in centralized tax allocation.

How Do We Fund National Defense Without Taxes?

If not through taxation, how do we:
  • Fund the military?
  • Protect against external threats?

Historically, the U.S. initially operated without income tax, relying on state-collected property taxes—a system that aligned with the era when only landowners had voting rights. However, during World War II, federal personal income tax was introduced to finance the war effort, though the first federal income tax actually began during the Civil War in 1861 and was later codified with the 16th Amendment in 1913.

Even President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned against unchecked military spending, stating:



Structural Reforms for Fair Governance


If fairness in governance were truly the goal, several reforms should be implemented:

1. Term Limits for Elected Officials

  • Senators: Maximum six 2-year terms.
  • House Representatives: Maximum three 6-year terms.
  • Judiciary: Maximum 20-year terms, with the option to reapply for reappointment.
2. Campaign Finance Reform
  • PACs and lobbyists should be barred from direct campaign contributions.
  • Instead, all campaign funding should come from a single, publicly managed fund, allocated equally based on qualifying support levels—ensuring a level playing field.
3. Outlaw Gerrymandering
The most fair districting system would involve:
  • A nonpartisan committee of 12, composed of:
    • 4 members from each major party
    • 4 randomly selected citizens
  • This would ensure fair, unbiased representation, preventing manipulation for political advantage.
Looks like an AI response without any effort at all
 

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