http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wage_slavery Similarities between wage labor and slavery were noted at least as early as Cicero [10] and Aristotle.[11] A line in the original Star-Spangled Banner categorizes "hirelings" as being in the same category as slaves; i.e. people who weren't considered free.[12] With the advent of the industrial revolution, thinkers such as Proudhon and Marx elaborated these comparisons in the context of a critique of property not intended for active personal use.[13][14] Before the American Civil War, Southern defenders of African American slavery also invoked the concept of wage slavery to favorably compare the condition of their slaves to workers in the North.[15][16]
I think you are reaching. That's got nothing to do with taxes, that's equating working for a living with slavery. barfo
That pretty much depends on your putting forth an arbitrary definition of slavery, which is just as much "poppycock" as anything else mentioned here Who cares whether your definition of slavery contains five intolerable notions in one, or just two or three.
I think there is a pretty commonly understood definition of slavery; I was using that one. If you want to redefine it to mean something else, go ahead, but that makes it pretty hard to communicate. Posting here is slavery! Drinking beer is slavery! The NBA draft? Slavery! Sleeping is slavery. Sex is slavery. Food is slavery. Living is slavery. Dying is slavery. barfo
I think it's pretty commonly understood definition of slavery to be unable to enjoy any of the rewards of your labor. I suppose that sort of condition could be described as some sort of absurd nihilism if it were not much easier to call it slavery, but it's six of one and half a dozen of another.
But that isn't the situation we are discussing. Unless of course you take the extremist view that *nothing* that government does with your tax dollars benefits you in any way. Only then would a 100% tax rate equate to being unable to enjoy any of the rewards of your labor. barfo
Slavery is the Taking of the Fruit of someone else's Labor. That's in economic terms, and the actual definition of slavery. Your master will give you the same benefits govt. does in your mind. A roof over your head, food, rudimentary medical care. I brought up slave wages because you seem to think people have the kind of mobility to just switch jobs anytime they want. Tell that to an auto worker.
Under that definition, every employer is enslaving its employees. It's true in a certain sense, but not a very meaningful sense, since we all accept that form of slavery. Indeed, if I understand your political beliefs, you think that form of slavery is a good and wonderful thing. At least for the employer. As will the money the employer pays you. There's not a big difference, except in one case the money passes through your hands. Auto workers are rather scarce in Portland, so I am unable to carry out your directive. Should I find myself in Detroit, I will try to remember to do so. However, I will point out that auto workers do still have a choice. They may not have any good choices, but presumably they can, at worst, get a job flipping burgers in some other city. barfo
