A question of morality

[Richard]

I am in the 28% income tax bracket.  Starting next week, I'll be going into business with myself that will earn me hopefully another $500 to $700 a week for a few hours of work every evening.

Of course, the government wants its cut.  It being off the books, would it be immoral to NOT declare it come tax day next year?

I would feel bad if I shop lifted something.  I even feel bad when I charge someone $50 for something that takes me 10 minutes to do but would cost him $150 if he had someone else come in and do it.  However, I don't have any conscious objection to refusing to let the government steal my money.

Would you declare your income?

[Richard]

It is the law. If you object to it, vote. If not, move. Otherwise it's really just stealing, even if you object to it.

Exactly. Work to change the tax laws, but in the mean time be honest and pay your taxes.

I think not.  I have moral issues with my money being used to fund murder (abortion).  I shall not contribute to such.

[Richard]

As well as funding abortion, your money also contributes to building and maintaining roads, among other things.

I buy gas, which includes a gas levy.

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All of the public services I use I already pay for through municipal taxes or duties and levies.

I object to my money going to financing murder.

[Richard]

Shall those of us who do not support the war in Iraq also withhold from paying taxes, or is this an exception specifically for you?

Absolutely.  The more people start refusing the tyranny of the government the better.

[Richard]

I agree with Joe - don't pay taxes, and don't use any services at all. That includes roads, and - oh yes - public utilities, which get discounted rates. And anything else the government supplies. Have fun.

Current law dictates that roads are built from revenue raised from gas duties, not income taxes.  For water, well, we use well water.  For other minor services, I pay PST, and other provincial taxes, duties, and levies.

[Richard]

Like those freedom-fighters, the drug dealers.

Almost, but not quite.  I really don't want people to get hurt, as is often the case with drug dealers.  If the government gets out of the business of telling people which drugs they can use, we would have lower crime and far fewer major problems.  That said, we would also have more Darwin awards, but I'm fine with that.

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I didn't.