All Governments Seek to Expand and Control – Often Through Taxation or Stealing
There is an old quote which goes something like this; “you never want the government to get bigger then you can drown in the bathtub if it gets out of control,” or something to that effect. It seems that whenever governments are formed, they have a tendency to grow. Just as if you write one law, even if it is only a simple law, you will always add more exceptions and more definitions to that law as time goes on. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan once said; “the problem with creating a regulation is that once you create a single regulation there is just too much temptation to add to it.” Both of those quotes are apropos to the conversation here at hand.
You see, all governments seek to expand and control, and they often do this through taxation. They need more money and resources to give what they promised to appease the masses, and to keep the masses in control when they start to rebel. They need to assert authority, and therein lies the problem, especially for an illegitimate government. But what is legitimate, and what is illegitimate? That my friends is all in the minds of the masses – for instance, there is another quote; “if you believe you are free then you are, if you believe you aren’t, then you are not.” That of course also makes perfect sense doesn’t it? Okay so, let’s talk about this for a moment and move on to yet another example.
The Wall Street Journal had an interesting article on December 18, 2012 titled “Afghanistan Seeks Taxes from Contractors to US,” by Nathan Hodge.
Now then, let me get this totally straight, the United States government pumps 100s of billions of dollars into the Afghanistan economy and now they want more? They have benefitted in so many ways from all of this incredible money flow. This latest move is almost extortion in my view, especially as they wish to go back in hindsight and collect on back taxes prior to having such rules. As the flow of US taxpayer’s money into the country slows, there are fewer dollars for the government.
Indeed, the Afghanistan government — as corrupt as it is, which is common in that part of the world — is on a revenue scavenger hunt which could lead it anywhere. It’s a serious challenge for the fledgling emerging nation. Will it seek to befriend China, Russia, and/or strengthen ties with Iran and Pakistan to fill that vacuum of lost revenue, one which it can never replace? Why is all this happening? It’s simple, because we propped up an illegitimate government, an illegitimate ruler, and we brought him into power and authority.
Now that we are leaving and taking our money with us, that illegitimate government and their leadership is worried about losing control, and they will need more money and resources to continue their regime. Unfortunately, their leadership has learned from our leadership, and the blob of bureaucracy seems to be universal in that regard. Again, not only is it all too common globally, it’s all too unfortunate at this point. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.