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May 19, 2013, 03:14:24 am

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Well, I wrote a reply to an article by a prominent state tax counsultant about the FSP and the editor asked if I wanted it published? What do you say? I am a bit apprehensive about having this published because I wrote it more as a personal leter to him, not for the general public consumption...
Here is his initial article:
http://www.taxanalysts.com/www/readingsintaxpolicy.nsf/WebSubjects/F5D1625D78C0A51085256D260067D3CB?OpenDocument

Here is my reply:

Hello David!

Never thought I would actually have the pleasure of meeting someone (I knew that people like you existed, but... it all seemed more like the old 'monster under the bed' fairy tale) that actually made their living from encouraging states to increase their taxes.

Yes, I just finished reading your article re:The Free State Project which I found sometimes funny, sometimes incredible, sometimes almost scary. I am a member of the Project which has currently reached its initial goal of 5,000 members and is therefore now in the process of voting on the state to move to.

I wonder what exposure you have had to Austrian Economics in regard to the effect of taxation upon an economy. Austrian Economic Theory has solidly trumped every other economic theory in intellectual debate for over thirty years. Yes, still and will probably always be 'a theory' but a provable 'better theory than other economic/political theories 'socialism', 'Marxism', 'reaganism', 'communism', etc. I encourage you to visit www.mises.org and expand some of your world view (just as I am expanding mine in reading your articles... I solidly do not believe that one should be stagnant in their political/economic views and I think there is much value in obtaining more information, even info contradictory to one's own views)

I do have some answers to the questions you proposed in your article and one question at the end for you to answer if you will:

As a person who writes about state taxes every week, I am worried. What will I do for a living?
Perhaps put your education to work for you in a field which does not promote coercive governmental taxation which leads to inefficient governmental spending at the expense of the average person's freedom. I am sure you will manage in whatever you do.

How will a certain eight-year- old boy in Virginia obtain the latest PlayStation2 games?
I gather this is your son, congratulations! I hope you want to give him the best possible education available, which, by the way, cannot be had within the public school system. If you need help in educating him to be the best he can truly be, I suggest checking out some of the many homeschooling sites across the net or perhaps a private school. Once you find that perfect school for him, please note that due to government coercion, you will have to still pay for the decrepit public school system even though you are not using its 'services', AND you will have to pay the tuition and cost of privately schooling your child. Maybe forgoing on that next 'play station' will help with your budget problems... but, either way, its really not my place to say, I am just offering a suggestion

If there are no state taxes, there is no need for tax attorneys, accountants, economists, or revenue department officials.

Oh My! I can't believe you have the same exact fantasies as I! Just think how much money we would save and how much more efficient and productive our society would be without these particular folks!

We need to band together: law firm and revenue officer, accountant and auditor, COST (Council On State Taxation) and MTC (Multistate Tax Commission). This could result in a new era of cooperation. Maybe even the lobbyists for the Direct Marketers Association would join us.

In the past, a band of outlaws like this would be considered a public danger and been hunted down by a posse.... ah, don't you miss the good old days of common sense and courage?

We will be the opposition party that fights for more and more complex taxes. That will show them.

More and More complex taxes? Holy Moly David! Do you really think this way or is this an exaggerated joke? I hope you realize that if you did do this you would fall right into our laps - we couldn't have a better example to point to when expressing our views to the public than your statement does, please, write some more, this is good stuff for us!!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
well, that is the end of my suggestions, hope you don't take my little note as being offensive - it is not a personal attack I am trying to make.

Here is my question (this isn't a 'baiting' question, or 'the question to end all questions', just perhaps a thought-provoker...maybe...

If you won 1 billion dollars with the one caveat that you had to give it to someone to help the poor, would you...
(A) Give it to a private charitable organization (religious or not)
or
(B) Give it to the government (ie:Health and Human Services, Department of Welfare)
Hope to see you in the Free State!
Michael

lemme know soon please
michael

Most of it looks printable, except this one line:

Quote

In the past, a band of outlaws like this would be considered a public danger and been hunted down by a posse.... ah, don't you miss the good old days of common sense and courage?

That strides a little too close to the "force" issue we're so wary of.

If it were me, I'd write the editor back and thank him for his offer. Explain that the email wasn't intended for public consumption and is not polished enough to be publish-worthy, although you'd be delighted to write a proper reply along the same lines. See if he is willing.

thats kinda the way I was thinking... but then again - any publicity is pretty much good publicity...

Quote from: LeopardPM on August 06, 2003, 03:44:15 am

thats kinda the way I was thinking... but then again - ~~any publicity is pretty much good publicity~~...

I think it is great and after that one change, or a new letter to the editor, it should be published.

Agreed, Freedom. You can always see if he'll let you change that one thing and make the reply more formal in form, then go for it!

made my request to change... will keep ya posted

Umm.... I thought the original article was totally tongue-in-cheek, and I worry a bit that a serious reply will make us seem humorless. But as long as you make it clear that you're just a member (not speaking for everyone) then go for it if you want.

Good Idea, Elizabeth - I will clearly state that the note is from a member and not necessarily representative of the FSP in general or that of its officers.

exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for - thanks all!

OK, Here is the corrected letter, its been sent...

Hello David!

Never thought I would actually have the pleasure of meeting someone (I knew that people like you existed, but... it all seemed more like the old 'monster under the bed' fairy tale) that actually made their living from encouraging states to increase their taxes.

Yes, I just finished reading your article re:The Free State Project which I found sometimes funny, sometimes incredible, sometimes almost scary. I am a member of the Project which has currently reached its initial goal of 5,000 members and is therefore now in the process of voting on the state to move to. I need to make this clear: I am just a member and do not in any way represent the views of the project in general or necessarily any of its other members.

I wonder what exposure you have had to Austrian Economics in regard to the effect of taxation upon an economy. Austrian Economic Theory has solidly trumped every other economic theory in intellectual debate for over thirty years. Yes, still and will probably always be 'a theory' but a provable 'better theory than other economic/political theories 'socialism', 'Marxism', 'reaganism', 'communism', etc. I encourage you to visit www.mises.org and expand some of your world view (just as I am expanding mine in reading your articles... I solidly do not believe that one should be stagnant in their political/economic views and I think there is much value in obtaining more information, even info contradictory to one's own views)

I do have some answers to the questions you proposed in your article and one question at the end for you to answer if you will:

As a person who writes about state taxes every week, I am worried. What will I do for a living?
Perhaps put your education to work for you in a field which does not promote coercive governmental taxation which leads to inefficient governmental spending at the expense of the average person's freedom. I am sure you will manage in whatever you do.

How will a certain eight-year- old boy in Virginia obtain the latest PlayStation2 games?
I gather this is your son, congratulations! I hope you want to give him the best possible education available, which, by the way, cannot be had within the state public school system. If you need help in educating him to be the best he can truly be, I suggest checking out some of the many homeschooling sites across the net or perhaps a private school. Once you find that perfect school for him, please note that due to government coercion, you will have to still pay for the decrepit public school system even though you are not using its 'services', AND you will have to pay the tuition and cost of privately schooling your child. Maybe forgoing on that next 'play station' will help with your budget problems... but, either way, its really not my place to say, I am just offering a suggestion

If there are no state taxes, there is no need for tax attorneys, accountants, economists, or revenue department officials.
Oh My! I can't believe you have the same exact fantasies as I! Just think how much money we would save and how much more efficient and productive our society would be without these particular folks!

We need to band together: law firm and revenue officer, accountant and auditor, COST (Council On State Taxation) and MTC (Multistate Tax Commission). This could result in a new era of cooperation. Maybe even the lobbyists for the Direct Marketers Association would join us.

In the past, a band of outlaws like this would be considered a danger to the public in general... funny how things change sometimes...

We will be the opposition party that fights for more and more complex taxes. That will show them.

More and More complex taxes? Holy Moly David! Do you really think this way or is this an exaggerated joke? I hope you realize that if you did do this you would fall right into our laps - we couldn't have a better example to point to when expressing our views to the public than your statement does, please, write some more, this is good stuff for us!!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
well, that is the end of my suggestions, hope you don't take my little note as being offensive - it is not a personal attack I am trying to make.

Here is my question (this isn't a 'baiting' question, or 'the question to end all questions', just perhaps a thought-provoker...maybe...)

If you won 1 billion dollars with the one caveat that you had to give it to someone or organization to help the poor, would you...
(A) Give it to a private charitable organization (religious or not)
or
(B) Give it to the government (ie:Health and Human Services, Department of Welfare)
Hope to see you in the Free State!
Michael

--------------------------
ok, it is now a bit better for public consumption - I regret that I am not a better writer, I am definitely not in David's league - I look forward to reading his response to the letter in your LTE section. Would you email me when the issue comes out?

Thanks Alot Carol! I appreciate you allowing me to participate in your publication (no matter how wacky my views may be when compared to your own!

yours in liberty,
michael

Well written, Leopard!

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