Is tax theft? Many people think so — and that belief shapes how we vote, how we treat public services, and how democracy functions.

In this video, I explain why the popular claim “it’s my money, why should the government take it?” is based on a fundamental mistake. Income does not exist before the state. Jobs, wages, money, contracts, and property rights all depend on government systems that come first.

Tax is not punishment. It is not confiscation. It is a macroeconomic tool that stabilises the economy, controls inflation, shapes markets, reduces inequality, and sustains democracy itself.

If you care about public services, economic stability, or democratic accountability, this is the conversation we need to have.

#198 America Unplugged