A couple of years ago I had to visit the emergency room which resulted in me being administered an IV, some muscle relaxants, a 7up, and a three thousand dollar bill. The previous summer I had finished reading American Health Care which helped me to fully understand just how F.U.B.A.R. the medical system really is in this country. At the time, I knew that the bill reflected not only the costs I had accrued, but those of many other patients as well.

I had given up on insurance long before, partly out of an inability to pay, and partly because modern insurance no longer amounts to a hedge against risk, but instead a pseudo welfare scheme. I had no money to pay the bill and considered going to the County. But because I was a limited-government libertarian, the thought of having taxpayers foot the bill for my healthcare seemed repulsive. Instead, I chose to borrow the money from my parents despite having been a perfect candidate for welfare; jobless and without assets. If I could do it over today I would have chosen welfare. Let me explain why.

If one visits nearly any major emergency room in America they will have no problem spotting dozens of individuals undoubtedly receiving healthcare they cannot afford. The bills for these individuals are picked up by taxpayers and other patients who pay for both their own costs as well as those of the welfare class. Surely, the limited time, care, and medication I received could not have had a true cost of three thousand dollars. I had likely paid over two thousand dollars of that bill in inflated costs to counterbalance the losses hospitals incur by treating those that do not pay.

Therefore, I was presented with a choice: I could either join the parasite class or I could be the chump who foots the bill for the parasite class. Being the chump that I was I foot the bill. And I say I was a chump because at the time I was still a limited-government libertarian. I still believed the system could be reformed. As a minarchist I was constantly striving for balanced budgets and the hope that someday we would legislatively repeal the welfare, warfare, and police state.

As a converted anarchist I now recognize the fact that none of that is ever going to happen. I recognize now that every tax dollar I pay only goes to support an illegitimate and dying system. The very people I used to loathe for receiving hand-outs are actually smarter than I ever was, for they are helping to bankrupt the system far more efficiently than I ever could by proselytizing my family, friends and neighbors.

No, I think I won’t be looking for a white-market job whereby I work half of the year to pay taxes. Rather, I’ll continue to work in the black and grey markets, and shop there when I can. If I am unable to make ends meet, then I say bring on the food stamps. If I go to the emergency room again, I’ll have the County pay for it. And then I’m going to rub it in the noses of those who work half the year paying taxes by reminding them that this is their system. If they don’t like it, they can always pull a John Galt and let the whole system come crashing down. Of course, there are those who pay taxes without taking any ownership of the state. But even then, as anarchists they should be spending every waking moment figuring out how to no longer be a tax slave. And if they don’t then they truly have accepted the mentality of the surrendered.

Better to not own anything of value that can be stolen, like a house or fancy cars. Better yet to bury your savings in the form of gold and silver. And best to mulct the system for every penny you can. Only then will the productive class begin to realize that paying taxes is for chumps.

However, there are some things to always keep in mind. No matter how much money the criminal gang gives you, you are not deserving of it. You are not entitled to it. It is not your right. But lastly, you are not responsible for its theft because you never condone forced wealth redistribution. That crime has been committed by the state. How it spends its stolen loot is a moot point.