[krath94]

When I say taxation is theft, I mean federal income taxes. I'd rather pay more to my state and local governments. I interact with those more local levels way more often and receive more benefits from them than from the federal government. States maintain their own roads.

[krapp]

The rationale for calling taxation theft is the compulsory nature of taxation - which applies to states as well as the federal government. If taxation is theft, it doesn't cease to be theft when you like what the thieves spend your money on.

[xmstr]

All states accept federal highway funds. Source: http://www.governing.com/topics/finance/gov-state-budgets-fe...

[throwaway2016a]

That is true but why the level of bureaucracy in the middle? Why not just give the states the money directly and bypass the federal government?

Just because it is that way doesn't mean it should be.

An obvious answer, though not satisfying, is that some states are too poor for that.