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legerdemain

Tyranny -> "representative" government.

Extortion -> taxation.

Invasion into the minute detail of my attire -> public "decency" laws.

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Yeah, taxation isn't extortion and tyranny isn't representative government tho but otherwise agreed!

I would argue the conversion is the one you're utilizing, from "taxation" to "extortion."

Extortion is a specifically defined crime, and of course, it is the role of the government to define criminal behavior. In the same way that getting arrested by the police isn't kidnapping, paying taxes isn't extortion.

The consent of the governed and all that.

> The consent of the governed and all that.

Can you explain what you mean by this?

Turns out if you don’t pay taxes or fines, at the extreme you can be shot to death. This is legal.

Lot of laws and rules are arbitrary, so a government official get a “fine”, sometimes massive fines, placed against you.

You pay it or lose everything, go to jail, or get shot for refusing.

Lots of struggling business owners are finding themselves in this situation lately.

Lots of small business owners are getting shot for not paying taxes? Generally you have to make profit to pay taxes. Otherwise they've been substantial beneficiaries of programs like the PPP.

Gyms and restaurants are opening despite orders.

Many have already been given major fines, had utilities shutdown, etc.

Friends our shutdown there restaurant last week.

That’s what happens when you break the law. It’s like talking about all your friends jailed for DUI, like ok, maybe don’t do that then?

Break the law? "Dictator" given mandates without scientific backing are "law" now?

Because everywhere you look... with or without lockdowns, COVID is spreading... California, New Jersey, Florida, Texas... all different approaches. All spreading in "2nd waves"...

Not everyone is okay with following "decree's from on high by a benevolent master" without end because "the war will never be over so give me more power"...

Just to be clear, the state and federal government have a long history of challenged (and ultimately upheld) sweeping authority to impose restrictions in support of public heath. Here's an analysis by the CATO institute, which is, dare I say, not exactly "left-leaning". [1]

There were pandemics and lockdowns all the way back to the founding fathers, which I still find very strange to hearken back to, they made a lot of poor decisions too - but I digress.

[1] https://www.cato.org/commentary/are-lockdown-orders-constitu...

Not in New Zealand though huh. Where they did the lockdowns properly, and it stopped Covid completely. Compliance is the issue not the approach.

So all laws are good? Is that what you would say to someone who broke Jim Crow?

> That’s what happens when you break the law. It’s like talking about all your friends jailed for DUI, like ok, maybe don’t do that then?

What law is being broken?

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