Taxation

Until very recently, the idea of “private property” was a game played by the ruling elite. In “civilized” societies, slaves and peasants, who did not even own the food they grew, made up the mass of society. Even among the elites, the rule was largely “you only own what you can keep from others somehow.”

Ah but these are better days. Both the common people and the elites now own “private property” guaranteed by the “legal establishment.” That the elites still own most of the “private property” does not matter, right? . It’s “legal.”

But who pays for that de facto and de jure legal establishment? The elite cleverly say everyone. Not, heaven knows, those who have the most to protect. And they have spun the accepted mythology that elite concentrated private ownership makes more things for everyone. So let that fine group not be penalized by paying too much in taxes, theoretically impoverishing us all. 

We need the military and police, of course, to protect this great property revolution. Somehow, it often ends up looking like the far olden days of blue blooded aristocrats. And no need for those aristocrats to pay too much _ they keep civilization going, after all.

I always laugh at the quaint idea that lowering taxes will shrink government and create wealth. It certainly leads to larger estates and bigger yachts. 

Eliminating customary safety nets for the peasants can have unexpected consequences. Taxes may fall, along with a few other things.