[dwolfson20]

This is an extremely abstract argument. It's a matter of degree. If everyone gave all their money to charity, we'd have no government at all.

[rooshdi]

Exactly, as much as some individuals would like to focus solely on the ills of government, there are socially beneficial programs supported by the government which need continual funding:

http://know.about.com/Government_Programs

[andrewflnr]

You're taking my abstract argument farther than I intended; perhaps I should have been more careful. I'm not saying we should give all our money to charity, just that it should be strongly preferred to paying increased taxes, especially with the goal of helping people.

[Andrew_Quentin]

I think the rich can do both. They can pay taxes and give to charity like most ordinary people do. What is so special about them?