[millstone]

> It's really a simple test to see whether taxes are theft or not: if there was no way for IRS to find out how much money anyone made, would people still be paying taxes?

This "test" is hilarious!

If stores could not determine how much merchandise you had in your cart, more people would shoplift. So prices in stores are theft! If you could not determine if someone else drove your car, then your neighbor might sneak a joyride. Your owning a car is theft!

> My guess is that 90% of people who preach about the social contract and helping the poor would keep the money.

And if we replaced the social contract with private contracts, nobody would ever cheat on those, right?

An unenforceable law is a bad law. Good laws are designed to solve problems like free riders or production of public goods in a way compatible with rational self-interest. It is not hypocritical to act in your self-interest while simultaneously supporting the rule of law.

[brokenmusic]

If there was no way to detect the contents of the cart, shoplifting rates would increase, but not to a dramatic number. It's because stores don't force people to visit them and buy things. They offer.