As an aside, SkunkApe and Zundfolge, unless you're including sales, property, and hidden taxes in the cost of goods in those 40% and 50% figures, something is wrong. There are all sorts of ways to shelter income from federal and state income taxes. IRA's, 401's if you're an employee, Keoghs if you're self employed, annuities, etc.
I'm counting federal income tax, social security/medicare (both emploer and employye contributions), state income tax, state sales tax, vehicle license fees, and capital gains taxes. I'm ignoring things like gas taxes, fishing and hunting licenses, Wallop/Breaux tax on sportingfishing equipment, FAET tax on firearms and ammunition, cigarette tax, liquor tax, telephone taxes, toll booth taxes, etc. etc. etc. It's making me ill even thinking about it. I'm also ignoring local taxes. I pay a heck of a lot of property tax money for schools, and I don't even have any children.
All of this money is collected under threat of physical violence. Most of it is given to people who will take all they can get, or for causes that I do not support, with no concern for my well-being.
The question was not meant as a setup to an attack on libertarianism, but rather for my own edification as I search for a new political affiliation.
I offer a portion of my remaining time and money to causes of my own choosing. I do this for my own personal satisfaction. I could list examples here, so as to impress others. But that's not really the point of charity, now is it?
