Taxation

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Taxation is a tool in socialism. Yes, in essence socialism.  Dues were collected through various means and through various terms. The monies then were entrusted to the government bureaucracy for the benefit of society as a whole, not for the few individuals. Taxes are wealth redistributed in various ways, aimed eventually towards equalization of social status, though barely. Now let us be clear about this, taxes collected are technically the property of the taxpayer until it is expended for its intended purpose, as provided by law. Again, the government is a mere trustee. Being so, the goverment office is presumed to be an office of trust and confidence. What happen if that trust is breach? What are the remedies of the taxpayer? Taxes are the equivalent of blood, sweat and tears exacted from the working and even the non-working man. Earnings that could have gone a long way in improving lives were given up as taxes supposedly for the general well being of the public at large. Again what are options of the taxpayer when he was duped into believing that he is serving humanity. When individuals of greed , entrusted with the power of the purse, supposedly the guardians of the nations coffer were themselves the robbers hiding behind the robe of honor and dignity. Should a taxpayer be entitled to a tax holiday until trust is restored? Will he be entitled to tax refund or deduction against withholdings until the culprits are jailed? Should everything be tax free until the money is recovered? 

The scripture has something to say about this. 

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the Lord, and deceives his companion in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him, or through robbery, or if he has extorted from his companion, or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do;

then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him or the lost thing which he found, or anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full and add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering. Then he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation, for a guilt offering, -Leviticus 6:1-6. 

Think about it. Restitution is required. How will restitution be extended to the poor taxpayers without prejudice to the punishment of the guilties.

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