A had a Facebook conversation with a guy who can’t answer why it’s acceptable for government to force people to pay for things (aka theft). In fact, the vast majority of people are just like him. I’ve asked this question to many people and have never got a good answer. Here’s the conversation:

ME: Taxation is theft. Abolish public school.

John: Then you need to live on a little island all by yourself?? And be cut off from the rest of society that is funded by those very tax dollars?? That I know you have some sort of benefits from??

ME: So you have no problem with forcing people to pay for things they don’t want?

John: Take your child to a private school and pay for it yourself?? Thats your right.. No one stopping you.. But not with tax dollars..

ME: you seem to be refusing to respond to my argument. Why do you think it’s acceptable to force people to pay for things they don’t want?

I’m opposed to forcing you to pay for other people’s children’s private school tuition. I’d appreciate you not being in favor of forcing me to pay for things I don’t want.

John: You have the answer?? You just don’t like the one that was provided.. Go whare you please?? For your children education.. If you go private?? No public tax dollars are going with you..

ME: So if you lived in certain parts of New York at various times in the past where the Mafia forced people to pay for protection, you’d tell the victims something like, “Tough luck. If you don’t like living in Mafia-run areas, you should move.”?

John: Even back then?? That was and is a option..

But seriously the mafia has nothing to do with our public education system.. So your analogy is not accurate..

ME: You haven’t answered the question. Why is it acceptable for government to force people to pay for things they don’t want? You’ve suggested an option for what to do about the situation but you haven’t explained why it’s acceptable.

The analogy between government and the Mafia is perfect. The Mafia provided services and forced people to pay for the services. Feel free to explain why it was acceptable for the Mafia to force people to pay them–not what their victims’ options were, but why it’s acceptable.

John: Do you at your place of employment have to abide by there rules ,regulations, policies?? If so you should know why? If you don’t like any of that?? You are free to leave and go somewhere else?? Something applies for the school district.

As your work place is? Also school district?? Their not a democracy… They have here rules, policies, standards, curriculum to meet.. Theres no difference.

ME: You are unable to answer my simple question I’ve asked over and over. You can have the last word.