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Front Page  Titles (by Subject) V.—: By AUBERON HERBERT. - Taxation and Anarchism: A Discussion between the Hon. Auberon Herbert and J.H. Levy
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V.—: By AUBERON HERBERT. - Auberon Herbert, Taxation and Anarchism: A Discussion between the Hon. Auberon Herbert and J.H. Levy [1912]Edition used:Taxation and Anarchism: A Discussion between the Hon. Auberon Herbert and J.H. Levy (London: The Personal Rights Association, 1912).
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V.—By AUBERON HERBERT.What we Anti-taxationists want from Mr. Levy is to get a clear and definite statement of his creed, and the grounds on which it rests. As I understand, he leaves the present power of taxation intact. He allows A and B the power to tax C for any purpose, and up to any amount. But he desires that the Government should be kept “at the point at which it is necessary for the maintenance of the greatest amount of freedom.” Now, Mr. Levy is too old and practised a writer not to feel the excessive vagueness of this phrase. A Conservative might accept it; a Liberal might accept it; and many Sccialists would profess that it exactly describes their aim. I have several times been told by Socialists that their system which, in its logical completeness, allows no man to own property, and which turns far the larger part of human actions into State-regulated actions—is desired on the very ground that in no other way can men be really free. Will he, therefore, give us some more exact guidance? Will he give us a formula which cannot be read in different senses by many different persons; and when he has given it to us, will he translate it into the concrete terms which are intended to be covered by it? I have only to add that, in my opinion, it is the nature of his creed which forces this vagueness of expression upon Mr. Levy—whether he likes it or not—and that it is impossible for him to find any formula—unless it be of a vague and arbitrary character—which will express the Individualistic doctrine, and at the same time preserve for him the power of compulsory taxation to which he clings. Whenever he, or any other person, renounces compulsory taxation, we Anti-taxationists think that we can offer him a clear and effective formula; but compulsory taxation is so much opposed to the Individualistic principle, that we believe it must render the formula which attempts to cover both these things, vague, weak, and meaningless. |
