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Re:Detaining David Miranda by snitko on Tuesday August 27, 2013 @10:46AM (#6283724)
If you jail half the population you'd have to pay for extra prisons, guards and policemen and you're gonna have to get these money out of someone else's pockets. Whose pockets? Modern states are certainly powerful, but not to the extent when they can operate with half the population not paying.

Also, if you simply seize the money from the bank accounts, it's gonna be worthless the next day, as no one will think it's worth using the currency that can evaporate at your master's will.

Re:Detaining David Miranda by unimpressive on Tuesday August 27, 2013 @10:52AM (#6283763)
If you have the influence to get half the population to stop paying their taxes, you probably have easier ways of grinding society to a halt. (See: General Strike)
Re:Detaining David Miranda by beagle3 on Tuesday August 27, 2013 @01:03PM (#6284663)
The US has a deficit that's ~35% of the budget in the last few years, and most of the budget is spent on healthcare, fighting wars and other things that can easily be scaled back if needed (even though politicians say they can't).

As they say, the markets can stay irrational much longer than you can stay solvent.

Re:Detaining David Miranda by hyperventilator on Tuesday August 27, 2013 @10:55AM (#6283783)
None of this will happen because it is mutually assured destruction. Only unhappy men volunteer for war.