Civil War, Part II

[kandrathe]

How does this make me a vassal of the state?

And, then, you answered your own question.

All I have to do is pay my taxes. I just pay more taxes and get more in return.

Which you estimate is 60% of your earning power. Subtract what you need to actually live, and that gives you an idea of your ability to elevate your position through investment. So, they rob you of your money before you would get to invest it, thus robbing you also of the compounding that you might achieve by saving or investing it as well.

As an experiment; Say you earned $1 million over ten years. Your annual cost of living expenses were say $40,000, leaving $60,000 for investment. If the government taxes 60%, you have zero remaining. Whereas, here in the USA, the level is just a little less (considering taxes from all sources). Under the current system, the only way to invest, or save, is to command a salary well above the cost of living, and then with progressive taxation, you fight an uphill battle trying to do so. I would say it is obvious that you would be much better off by being able to keep your money and invest it. You are saying you are better off with the government taking all your investment power away, but guaranteeing you safety should you someday be unable to work for them anymore.

It appears that you work for the State (60%), and they allow you enough to provide for your own housing, food, and transportation. How are you not a vassal of the State?