[triceratops]

Let me try one last time.

Tl;dr you either pay taxes to a legitimate state (hopefully) with rule of law. Or you don't live in a (well-)functioning state and pay criminals.

"Police take your stuff" can happen in either kind of place. In only the first kind will "call a lawyer" be helpful, and only if it was done illegally.

This whole discussion is about places with weaker government and rule of law. "Call a lawyer" won't necessarily help in such places in getting your property back from corrupt police.

[jrflowers]

> Tl;dr you either pay taxes to a legitimate state (hopefully) with rule of law. Or you don't live in a (well-)functioning state and pay criminals.

I see, your point is that people with guns can take your land but in some places when you pay taxes it gives you hope that it’s not the police that will do that and in other places paying the criminals could give you hope that they won’t take your land