[coffeedoughnuts]

well if we're talking about straw men, I didn't actually say it needed to fund a political ideology of any kind. Or say anything about it being compulsory, though in fact I do think it should be.

Moreover, my comment was on the slightly silly notion that 'it's sad this is a thing now' when it has been a thing in Britain since Roman times.

Perhaps the original commentator is harking back to the good old days of pre-Roman occupation? Back when we were truly free. Never had it as good as we did ~30AD. It's gone to the dogs since then ;)

[qubex]

Time for #Romexit! Let's keep the tithes here where they belong! We can use those those gold coins to funds our own shamans!

Okay, sorry. I'll stop now.

[Cozumel]

Yeah, what did the Romans ever do for us?

[duncan_bayne]

13 million dead:

    All Punic Wars: 1.0M
    Gladiators: 1.0M
    Slave Wars (Servile Wars): 1.0M
    Cimbri-Teutoni War: 0.3M
    Social War: 0.3M
    Mithridatic Wars: ca. 0.5M
    Gallic War: 1.0M
    Juleo-Claudian Paranoia: 0.028M
    Jewish Wars: 0.4M
    Boudica's Revolt: 0.15M
    Decline and Fall: 7.0M
    TOTAL: over 13.0M

Source: http://necrometrics.com/romestat.htm

[toomanybeersies]

To be fair, that is over almost 1000 years. 13,000 per year is less than how many die each year in Mexico due to drug violence, and much less than the Syrian Civil war.

[Cozumel]

It's a Monty Python reference. /sigh

[duncan_bayne]

Yeah, I got that :) But it's also a valid question, with a valid answer.

[duncan_bayne]

Yeah that bit made no sense. But the overall sentiment certainly does.

[coffeedoughnuts]

"That bit"? That was their whole comment! I'm afraid you accused me of 'trotting out a line' when in fact the 'overall sentiment' was implied entirely by yourself.

My advice for next time - less pouncing on comments to shoe-horn in some great ideological stance. Specific discussion is better than generic argument in my book. Good day to you :)

[duncan_bayne]

This is the line I was criticising: "I suggest investigating a move to one of the functional libertarian nations with no taxes."

If I've misinterpreted you, feel free to correct me.

(Also, +1m Internet Points for your pleasant tone, sir. You are a gentleman and a scholar.)