Groundwork Of Morals By Immanuel Kant Analysis

“Taxation is Theft,” a popular slogan and sentiment voiced by many political philosophers andchampioned by libertarians. It is based on the ideology that the federal government infringes upon the property rights of individuals for the sake of tax collection. This belief is held on to so fervently, that even when the funds will be given to those that need it the most, the impoverished, these sects, respectfully decline. The problem with this mode of thinking is that is rest on the assumption that the individual is being robbed of something owned by them, and this is false. The collective community has entered a social contract with the government and with each other, and therefore, each member has a responsibility to help those in need, including, taxing the rich to

Furthermore, the sovereign government has an obligation to prevent any hindrance to freedom, and that includes paying for necessary social services including the poor. In his piece, “Groundwork for Metaphysics of Morals” Kant writes, “On this originally acquired ownership of land rests, again, the right of the supreme commander, as supreme proprietor, to tax private owners of land, that is, to require payment of taxes on land, excise taxes and import duties, or to require the performance of services” (Kant 325). Kant goes on to say, “the wealthy have acquired an obligation to the commonwealth, since they owe their existence to an act of submitting to its protection and care, which they need in order to live” (Kant 326). So, provided that the government uphold their duties to the rich, the wealthy must in-turn assist the impoverish and this is just because the rich will only need to give the minimum amount necessary for such persons to survive. This notion is the problem with taxation objectors logic, they want to remove themselves from the social contract