Because this probably isn't obvious, the following (until later when I mention Plz specifically after the rant, it'll be obvious) is not directed at anyone specific. Except Ron Paul at one point, but not until then. Mostly I just got tired of the Libertarian extremist view of taxes that is just so stupid I had to rant. Guess what people? Taxes are necessary!
Guess what? Private property is a myth. One of the most successfully persistent ones. Not many people actually own truly private property. You live on the mainland US? That land is owned by the US. Not you. You own the deed, but it still belongs to the US government. They let you stay there and do with it what you will, within the zoning permits and other legal restrictions (no murder and such). Individual laws vary with the state, and vary with ethical and moral "correctness", according to opinion, but still. Point is, the only people who own actual private property own lands outside of national borders. You may hate the idea, but governments own all the land inside their borders. Not individuals.
On taxes: you want to use the things that the government pays for? You pay taxes. It's as simple as that. This is something that conservatives don't seem to get. Taxes are not theft. They are payment. For a number of (expensive) services. Services such as protection (military and police), transportation (roads), healthcare, education, a ton of stuff. If you refuse to pay taxes on principle that they are theft, and use the roads, you are the one stealing.
The trick is figuring out what should the accepted value be. If the only accepted value is 0, then no taxes=no government=no services, and you can't complain when people come around and steal your stuff. Or when all currency becomes worthless, since that's a government thing. Oh, and speaking of that, you know how libertarians are all about the gold standard? Well, Ron Paul is all about the gold standard? The dollar is on a standardized currency right now, as much as he would hate to admit it. The standard? Trust. I'm not saying it's a good standard, I'm saying that it is a standard. The standard for all currency is trust that it will be worth what you buy with it. This is determined by a complex interaction of supply and demand, as well as flat out BS (re: faith). Also, can't complain when the roads don't get paved, can't complain when someone murders your family, can't complain when someone cheats you out of services, etc. So yes, taxes are a necessary thing, unless you want a total anarchy. A true total anarchy, not the idealized BS anarchy most anarchists expect to happen. You can complain about how much they are, you can complain about what they are being used for, but you can't complain about them existing.
Okay, enough ranting.
@Plz: 3: Lack of insurance increases the cost for all medical services, because they service has to happen regardless of whether the person pays or not (in the case of emergencies). Someone has to pay for the services, and that job falls to the government and insurance companies. Because who else would? It just increases costs for everyone, except those who don't pay. Wait, isn't that what the economic conservatives have a problem with in the first place? People getting the benefit but not paying? Also, insurance is not like any other economic good. Well, except money things, like loans, banking, the stock market, and gambling. Insurance is a combination of gambling and banking. The point is, just because no other good behaves that way doesn't mean that this one doesn't as well. Here's how insurance companies work in a nutshell: A bunch of people buy the insurance. The company makes money. A few people get sick/hurt/whatever. The insurance company spends money to cover them. If more and more people abuse the system, then the insurance company has to keep spending more and more money on those who aren't putting as much into the system. This increases the costs for those who are paying. By increasing the number of people who are paying, you decrease the total cost, because the same number of people are taking money out. This is what the health care bill does. Basically. Well, part of it. They other part is an anti-discriminatory clause that is supposed to help people qualify for the insurance, instead of getting turned down because of bad luck. Whether or not that should be up to individual companies is up for debate, but personally I think it's a good thing.
Anyways, the point of all of this is that taxes: necessary. Government: necessary. Government intervention: necessary. The only thing up to debate in this is how much the government should intervene.
