04-10-2013, 03:18 PM
As you wrote, "it does not seem right to back such a government with one's funds if it is possible."
If it is possible, then you certainly have that option. If it is possible legally, then well and good, although there might be unattractive drawbacks to the conditions involved. If it is only possible illegally (according to the government's laws), then you should be willing to accept the risks and the penalties if you make that choice and you get caught by the governmental authorities.
A valid government has the right to punish tax evaders. But if the government imposes taxes unfairly (namely, with policies of discrimination such as taxing citizens of some ethnic or religious groups more heavily, based only on their ethnicity or religion), then collection of the discriminatory additional taxes constitutes theft by the government, in violation of the Noahide prohibition of theft. Then it is not a valid government according to Torah Law, and it is only imposing its authority by force upon the oppressed group(s) of citizens.
You also wrote, "cunning is needed ... to find the weaknesses in the system and exploit them, using the laws and loopholes of the government to neuter them as much as possible."
Yes, of course. There is an entire gigantic industry and profession built around this goal, called "tax accounting". A person is freely and legally permitted to take advantage of this.
A person can avoid paying property taxes by not owning any property.
Also, one has the option to avoid paying income taxes by being unemployed, or having reported income below the cut-off level for paying any taxes, once the allowable tax deductions are applied. However, someone with such a low income is likely to have to resort to public assistance, so that is benefiting from the same unjust taxes that you are avoiding to pay. Likewise if one uses a nationalized health-care system, or publicly-funded schools.
One should bear in mind that at least some fraction of the governmental taxes are used for worthwhile expenditures that many or all citizens benefit from.
If it is possible, then you certainly have that option. If it is possible legally, then well and good, although there might be unattractive drawbacks to the conditions involved. If it is only possible illegally (according to the government's laws), then you should be willing to accept the risks and the penalties if you make that choice and you get caught by the governmental authorities.
A valid government has the right to punish tax evaders. But if the government imposes taxes unfairly (namely, with policies of discrimination such as taxing citizens of some ethnic or religious groups more heavily, based only on their ethnicity or religion), then collection of the discriminatory additional taxes constitutes theft by the government, in violation of the Noahide prohibition of theft. Then it is not a valid government according to Torah Law, and it is only imposing its authority by force upon the oppressed group(s) of citizens.
You also wrote, "cunning is needed ... to find the weaknesses in the system and exploit them, using the laws and loopholes of the government to neuter them as much as possible."
Yes, of course. There is an entire gigantic industry and profession built around this goal, called "tax accounting". A person is freely and legally permitted to take advantage of this.
A person can avoid paying property taxes by not owning any property.
Also, one has the option to avoid paying income taxes by being unemployed, or having reported income below the cut-off level for paying any taxes, once the allowable tax deductions are applied. However, someone with such a low income is likely to have to resort to public assistance, so that is benefiting from the same unjust taxes that you are avoiding to pay. Likewise if one uses a nationalized health-care system, or publicly-funded schools.
One should bear in mind that at least some fraction of the governmental taxes are used for worthwhile expenditures that many or all citizens benefit from.