[Skepolitic]

And at what point does the collection of taxes levied by laws passed by fairly elected representatives of a free people, become theft?

Pretty much whenever such laws involve coercion to deprive an individual of his rightful property. The fact that a majority of citizens “fairly elect” representatives to enact laws which take property by force from its rightful owner does not give that taking moral justification.

[DannyTN]

"Pretty much whenever such laws involve coercion to deprive an individual of his rightful property. The fact that a majority of citizens “fairly elect” representatives to enact laws which take property by force from its rightful owner does not give that taking moral justification.

Isn't that all taxes? What tax doesn't meet that definition?

• Property taxes which have been around since Colonial days certainly do.
• Import Tariffs which the founding fathers relied on to fund the federal government do. It's your property when you buy it overseas, but you are coerced to pay a tax when you try to bring it into the country.
• Sales tax which also date from colonial times do. You can choose not to sell your goods, but if you don't have freedom to sell without collecting a tax, then you are being coerced.

  When scripture says pay taxes, what taxes meet your non-theft criteria?