Many people who dislike taxes still attack people and organizations that receive tax benefits. Like companies with special state deals, or wealthy people with good accountants. But there is nothing wrong with escaping taxation.
Receiving a subsidy, on the other hand, is a completely different and immoral category.
Subsidies are paid with money stolen from rightful owners. That money is not yours by right and it is wrong to lobby for or accept subsidies.
When you can leverage your power to receive tax benefits (as film studios and corporations often do). You are avoiding the theft of your own money. Which is a valid and intelligent thing to do.
Playing the political game to get those tax breaks often means compromising your principle. And almost all companies fail to draw the distinction between immoral subsidies and moral tax breaks.
Blaming the Escapees
It is important to remember that it is the thief who should be criticized, and never the people who were not victimized.
In Canada, there is a lot of negativity thrown at Native Canadians about the tax breaks received for living on reservations. Even libertarians and conservatives who think taxation is wrong, aim resentment at Native Canadians for the tax breaks they receive.
It is an incredibly clear example of letting the criminal off the hook and blaming the non-victim. If 9 out of 10 people are stolen from, you shouldn’t attack the 10th, you should hold the thief morally responsible.
In the same way, you should’t be frustrated at companies that receive tax breaks, you should be frustrated with the government that steals your money.
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