Re:Mastercard and visa are the de facto regulators of porn
by notpushkin on Wednesday June 29, 2022 @08:23AM
(#31919159)
> If you don't like the mall, move and set up shop in a different one.
Except in a lot of (if not most) cases, you can't. I grew up in Russia and I feel blessed to live in Estonia now. Most of my fellow Russians can't, especially nowadays.
Another point is, you can set up your own mall and don't pay anybody, but good luck setting up your own state and not getting shot by your neighbour (provided you even find a little piece of terra nullius where you can do that – most of the land is claimed by one government or the other, even though it's mostly sitting there unused).
I'd say 'simpler', not 'easier'.
> Taxation is theft anyways.
Not really. Just pretend that living in a country is like renting a shop in a mall. The owners of the mall decide what they want to charge you for. In the simplest case, they just demand rent, but they could also charge you for the number of blue scarves displayed. That's just silly, but not theft (as long as the possibility of such a charge is mentioned in the rental contract).
If you don't like the mall, move and set up shop in a different one.
Similarly, most countries let you leave, too. (Even though eg East Germany and North Korea weren't/aren't so keen on that, and the US charges you an exit fee.)
Vote with your feet!
(For example, I grew up in Germany, but wasn't too keen on the package of taxes and government services on offer there. After a few years in different countries, I settled in Singapore, which is much better value for money. I'm happy with what I am getting here for the modest amount of taxes they take.)