Firstly, thanks. I think. ;)

Can't be a surprise to you, given my invitation to <censored>.

<list of various taxes>. Taxation in general is, at best, a necessary evil. But at the very most choose one type. We're currently being at the very least quadruple dipped.

Of course, that would mean that the one type would have to be extraordinarily high, and that the burden would fall far more on certain groups, and also discourage a given economic activity far more than others.

Now I know you will say: we should also spend less, so less need for taxes. Even assuming that people are going to give up their Social Security and Medicare and the war machine, and the variety of other very popular programs, it is not clear to me why hitting one 'type' would be superior than having light taxes everywhere. It might be annoying and exasperating, like you are not able to do anything without incurring a loss, but for the reasons specified in paragraph 1, this is probably better. (I can't believe I'm saying that about the current system...)

How is this not theft?

Well, to be technical, it would be robbery - as it's theft with the threat of violence. But I also think that it's a somewhat banal, as it's not even accompanied by a point. "Taxation is necessary, but since it's theft, it should be minimized as much as possible." That's an argument. Just "it's theft"? OK, and then? None of us don't like taxes, and I like it even less considering the terrible purposes on which it is spent, but that's hardly the same as there should be none.

No taxation without representation, and I don't believe we currently have representation.

This part is absolutely true.

If we did, then we could talk. I still think it should be voluntary, but we'd at least be doing better.

Voluntary? And how would you solve the 'free rider' problem?

Here's a question. If meritocracy is good on the individual level, why isn't it good on the governmental level? Should people have to earn their way? If so, is the government exempt? If so, why?

It's great, but not really practical. "Pay taxes if you want" simply isn't going to work. If you can not pay taxes and still enjoy all the benefits of what taxes pay for, then no one will pay taxes. If Microsoft could have the work of all great software engineers without paying them, it would do that! But they can exclude Microsoft from using their work, while public works by their very nature cannot.

Not sure what it's like where you are, but to use the 'muh roads' argument...my roads are fucking shit.

Well, they're great. Problem is, everything else here is worse than sh*t. So whenever I complain about taxes to other people here, they use the roads argument. They never say: it's great that we pay taxes so we can bomb third world countries every day of they year. Or let in 'refugees'. Or any of the other evil things that are done with my taxes.

I'm not saying libertarians (small "l" for the record) are right about everything; they're not. But they're right to hate and distrust the government, in its current form. It's a fucking joke, and I'll never apologize for that.

You shouldn't. But that's the easiest possible argument to make. I'm not sure anyone is happy about the performance of government.

Not to get all Ayn Randy, but there is some truth to the idea that something given/taken has no value. If you give these fuckers permission to just take your money, they're under no obligation or expectation to use it wisely. And they generally won't use it wisely.

There's great truth to that. It's very easy to spend other people's money. Waste and abuse is legendary where there is no accountability. And while I agree that we are in such a mess that anything would seem better, do we have a superior alternative?

I'm being extorted by the City, State, and Federal level

Well, I'm extorted by just the 'federal' level (at least equivalent). It's not exactly better. Then they distribute it to these various executing agencies. Meaning, there is even less accountability because the money is coming from above.

Let's assume I am rational. Perhaps I have a point in my distrust for government and the current system, right?

You'd be completely insane if you did not trust the current system.

Here's a question: Is there any - any - evidence that governments do a better job that groups of people or corporations?

Insofar as tasks of governments can be done by corporations, they are. E.g. mail delivery, which is completely privatized in Europe. But I don't see police, roads, etc. and other public goods done by people and corps. Yes, I can imagine some scheme where private security firms act as some sort of police, but it's a bit fanciful, don't you think?

Gubmint fucking sucks when it comes to roads. I go out there and fill the potholes, dig the ditches, on my street. Because the government doesn't. I don't get paid. I do it for free, as the saying goes.

I'm pretty sure I'd get arrested if I filled potholes. Fortunately there aren't that many.