All civilizations have funded public works with taxes, whether through income taxes, taxes on production (crop yields, mineral extraction), customs (tariffs), or by labor obligations (corvée).
Even libertarian enclaves end up recreating taxes by another name (use fees, tolls).
Voters should (and do) prioritize public spending versus taxation. Sometimes they are inefficient (Greece, Argentina pre-2025), but many states get it right (Estonia, Sweden).
> Not extracted from you under the threat of violence and incarceration.
No one is forcing anyone to pay taxes unless they wish to continue to be a part of the society collecting the taxes. If you don't like that deal, leave and find somewhere better; you may be interested in Seasteading [0]
If you are referring to being a US citizen and paying US taxes, you are free to renounce your citizenship, hand in your passport if you have one and never to have to deal with this "threat of violence and incarceration" from a state you seem to feel threatened by.
Why stay if participating in it poses such a hazard to your health? One great thing about the freedoms in the US, is the freedom for you to leave. Notice how we don't have passport control on exits? No one in the US is forcing you to be here.
Even libertarian enclaves end up recreating taxes by another name (use fees, tolls).
Voters should (and do) prioritize public spending versus taxation. Sometimes they are inefficient (Greece, Argentina pre-2025), but many states get it right (Estonia, Sweden).