[dcwusmc]

I’ll try to... and this is for LearsFool, as well. The LEGITIMATE functions of government, especially at the Federal level, constitute such a minute fraction of the current expense of government that you could add a clause to your homeowner’s insurance to help fund it through your premiums. Or any other insurance you hold. Plus, Congress could legitimately put a small tariff on goods coming into the country that would provide funding for its CONSTITUTIONAL activities. This negates the “need” for involuntary financing of things outside the proper scope of government. Remember, this tremendous burst in governmental growth only came after government had an assured (but illegitimate) source of funding: the income tax or, on the state level, the income and PROPERTY tax, two of the most evil inventions of man! Keep government broke and begging and it’s your servant. Let it get into your wallet without recourse and it becomes your master.

[LearsFool]

Oh, so now you want to force me to buy insurance?! What about my liberty?!

Just kidding. :-)

But seriously, my question still stands: If it's not right for me to take your money by force and spend it on public goods (i.e. national defense, etc.), how is it right for the government to do so?

[Clinging Bitterly]

OK I properly understand, another small excise tax (perhaps not necessarily on that particular thing), and a proper emphasis on LEGITIMATE.

Keep government broke and begging and it’s your servant. Let it get into your wallet without recourse and it becomes your master.

Ain't that the friggin' truth?