We’ve already talked about the problem: while many of us see paying taxes and getting government services in exchange as being a good deal, some folks resent the taxes. They feel abused, over-taxed, and exploited by a profligate socialist state that gives them precious little in return.

It’s certainly the right and responsibility of citizens in a democratic country to help make decisions on what’s effective government spending. But good and effective government is not what this increasingly vocal community is concerned about. They object to taxation and government services on principle. They feel it robs them of their wealth, rewards the weak, and punishes the resoruceful.

Forcing people who think like this to participate in the system is no good for anyone. So we should let people who would rather not participate declare independece and opt-out.

That’s right: stop paying taxes.

In return, we’ll stop providing these independents with government services.

Obviously that means no government-funded health care, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, public schools, subsidized loans, admission to or use of state universities. No public schools or libraries. Their property will not be protected against trespass or theft. I think that almost goes without saying.

But the government doesn’t just provide direct services. There are a lot of indirect ways people’s lives are subsidized — even if they are not poor.

For example, the newly independent will not be able to purchase any food that was subsidized by the federal government in any way. They will not be allowed on the Internet because tax money created it and continues to maintain it. They will not be allowed to use drugs that resulted from government-funded research, or see doctors trained in part at government expense, or be admited to hospitals that recieve federal or state funds.

Nor will they be allowed to drive on public roads or use cars that were developed in whole or in part by government funds. They will not be allowed into public parks.

They will not have any access to our stock market, because our stock market requires the SEC for oversight.

Obviously Independents will have to rely on each other for some of these services — there are an awful lot of people who have government-subsidized education. But they’ll have to use their own money, because US money is printed and minted at government expense, and the integrity of our currency system relies heavily on government enforcement. Likewise, they’ll also have to enforce their own contracts, because the tax-funded courts will not mediate. Same goes for intellectual property rights.

And so on.

Arranging for all your own needs strikes me as a lonely, restricted, miserable, even dangerous lifestyle. I don’t know why anyone would choose it. That’s probably why we invented civilization in the first place.

But then, I like the fact that we all come together as a nation to share our resources, abilities, and opinions. But the people who prefer to be self-reliant, to keep what they earn through their own unaided hard work? Who are we to oppress them with handouts and tax bills?