On the record
It is therefore a first principle, a very sine qua non of political freedom, that a man can be taxed only by his personal consent.
Said by
Lysander Spooner
Source
gutenberg.orgLysander Spooner: “It is therefore a first principle, a very sine qua non of political freedom, that a man can be taxed only by his…”
Editor's note · Context
He asserts that political freedom hinges on the principle that taxation requires personal consent.
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More from Lysander Spooner
They do not tell us that they have established infallible supreme courts, to whom they refer all questions as to the legality of their acts, and that they do nothing that is not sanctioned by these courts.
They do not tell us that all liberty and order would be destroyed, that society itself would go to pieces, and man go back to barbarism, if it were not for the care, and supervision, and protection, they lavish upon us.
They do not attempt to deceive us, or mislead us, or reconcile us to their doings, by any such pretences, impostures, or insults as these.
On the contrary, they acknowledge themselves robbers, murderers, and villains, pure and simple.