Taxes are what we pay for an impoverished society
Seminar by the Ludwig von Mises Institute's Joseph Salerno
6pm, Friday, April 19 2013
ACT Party Office
Level 2, 27 Gillies Ave, Newmarket, Auckland
Joseph Salerno is academic vice president of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, professor of economics at Pace University,
and editor of the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. He has been interviewed in the in the Austrian Economics
Newsletter and on Mises.org. One of Salerno’s most popular works is Money, Sound and Unsound.
ACT is always keen on generating good debate. Upon seeing this seminar, we thought that this was too good an opportunity
to pass up. ACT would like to thank the Ludwig von Mises Institute for giving us permission to screen their seminar and
for providing us with an archived recording.
Summary:
Written on the side of the Internal Revenue Service building in Washington, DC, is the phrase “Taxes are what we pay for
a civilized society.” These words have been used for decades to justify the forcible confiscation of wealth, but the
sentiment behind the phrase is, of course, much older.
Far from producing civilization, the reality of taxation is something much different. Taxation makes society less
efficient, less stable, and poorer, while providing the state with the ability to wage wars, imprison millions of
citizens for petty non-violent offenses, and regulate every aspect of the taxpayers’ lives.
Taxation is the worst method of looting us. Inflation, for example, is destructive, of course, and it might make a loaf
of bread cost $10. But at least you get a loaf of bread. With taxation, you get nothing.
Other speakers:
Matthew McCaffrey, University of Angers, France
Daniel Sanchez, Editor, Mises.org & Director of Mises Institute Online Learning
With an introduction from Amanda BillyRock, libertarian blogger and Mises University graduate.
Please note that the speakers are not associated with ACT
Everyone is welcome