Dear Hasbeen,

I understand your sentiment, but we need to be very precise when dealing with moral issues:

It is immoral to:

1. Steal.
2. Rob others, using force or threat of force.
Therefore:
3. Tax others compulsorily (regardless of what is done with the proceeds or whom they are given to).
4. Support a state/government that taxes others compulsorily.
5. Be in receipt of proceeds from compulsory taxation.

There is however nothing particularly immoral about:

1. Having your hard-earned money stolen.
2. Having your hard-earned money robbed away.
3. Being subject to taxation.
4. Taxation itself, so long as it is not compulsory.

I do actually consider taxation (within reason and for good causes such as helping those that are financially less fortunate) to be a positive thing, so long as it is not compulsory.

helping those that are financially less fortunate) to be a positive thing, so long as it is not compulsory.
Yuyutsu,
There are some big gaps with plenty of room for serious questions between your words. One of the most serious is, why are some people less financially fortunate than others ?
I have neighbours who literally never worked yet they receive $300 more in pension than those who worked for 50 + years. Then, I know people who exploited negative gearing to the fullest & still get a pension. I know people who have very little because of Authorities meddling in their affairs & people who are victims of crime.
Unless we can bring some, even just half an ounce of integrity to the Public Service, the situation simply cannot improve.
We certainly need to help everyone in need but their situation for being in the situation to need help needs looking into rather than just that insidious one size fits all mentality.
Those who simply pi$$ed their wages up against the wall should not receive the same amount than those who had the discipline to work towards retirement & the Govt needs to stop persecuting the latter for it.

Yeah well If the state can't keep you in old age or illness the it has no place telling you how to live and earn the rest of the time.

jamo,
Well, many voters will agree with you but won't do anything about it at election time !

Dear Individual,

«I have neighbours who literally never worked yet they receive $300 more in pension than those who worked for 50 + years.»

... So many assumptions ...

That giving away money is a bad thing.
That receiving money in pension is a good thing.
That work (in the sense of employment) is contributing to others.

What a culture!

Half of those who currently "work", would do us all a favour if they stayed put at home and do no harm. Giving them an unconditional survival-pension is therefore a great investment: would you rather have them steal to survive?

«Unless we can bring some, even just half an ounce of integrity to the Public Service»

They are included in the above. Why, they currently get a big salary to oppress us and strangulate us with their regulations, of which they ever need more in order to justify their job - give them a liveable pension instead to stay home and do us no harm!

«We certainly need to help everyone in need but their situation for being in the situation to need help needs looking into»

Of course, but it is for them to look into it, not for us, because it is their integrity which is at stake, not ours! There is no way anyone can help to uplift the moral integrity of others - this is one thing that everyone can only do for themselves.

«Those who simply pi$$ed their wages up against the wall should not receive the same amount than those who had the discipline to work towards retirement»

Correct. But it is for them to become ashamed and refuse to receive the pension, it is not for us to judge.

«the Govt needs to stop persecuting the latter for it.»

If we feel persecuted, then the best for us is to look within and ask ourselves what we did to deserve so. There is nothing we can do about government: predators have always been part of nature, but there is much we can do in order to be at peace despite them all.

Yuyutsu,
Are you for real ??