Fuel Subsidies in India

Thats sophistry at best.

Taxes have no basis in the economy. Taxes are essential to ensure national security, local law and order, government apparatus runs. Money spent of anything else is to ensure votes are regained at the next election. Call it socialism, call it whatever. Taxes are not essential for economy to function. Even in the presence of foreign invasion, riots and absence of government, economy can function and does function.

How do you know Scandinavian countries are doing well?

C Rangarajan hints at diesel, LPG price hike

PM’s economic advisory council chief C Rangarajan hints at diesel, LPG price hike - The Times of India

Though i agree with you in totality. A Good economy needs an enviornment to run properly which requires tax money. There was an economy during the times of cavemen also,there was aa economy. The modern economy and world requires tax.

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Give a man to eat and he will eat for the day. Teach him a trade and he will eat for life. You are talking about institutionalized "bheekh"!

Well said. Couldnt have said better myself

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Sophistry? As Adux said, there was an "economy" in the time of cavemen too, but that's really not what we are talking about, are we?

Let us not be pedantic about the use of words with their "dictionary meaning". It is obvious that the modern economy NEEDS taxes. All the things that you mentioned - law and order, national security, emergency disaster relief funds, intelligence, bureaucracy, etc. - these are essential components of a modern economy.

So, I don't think it is "sophistry" to say that the economy needs taxes. In the context which we are speaking of here, it is obvious that we are talking about a modern nation-state.

I think by this year end the price of petrol will be 100 per ltr and diesel 50 per ltr and it would be best for us to use bicycles for travelling.......

The connection may not be direct but there has always been a connection between taxes and economy. Note that even in the most economically liberal countries like the USA government actions and policies still have bearing on their economy. The government sets up and operate the educational system which produces the professionals, engineers, entrepreneurs, etc. that makes the economy move; maintenance of law and order; the government sets up and operates the various regulation agencies; government lobbies foreign countries/governments for business opportunities for their private companies; the military ensures that the strategic economic interests of the country is protected; etc., all these government actions or bodies or policies are paid for by taxes...

Yeah well the problem is present tax regime and its utilisation(in India) and the bureacracy hinders the economy more than it can help it.

The only govt work should be on infrastructure and others but is that what the govt is doing with our tax money?

In USA the govt lobbies for making their country powerful and for helping the Americans , whether they implement socialist policies or Capitalist policies, while in India, the govt lobbies for making personal money and for the good of the Foreigners, not for uplifting the life of the common man, for winning votes, But of course, the people of USA are Homo sapiens, and hence they have to choose for the politician for his policies and Indians, I dont know what species they belong to, may be Neanderthals and hence they vote for short term petty gains and for religion and shit.

The solution, as I always maintain, is to streamline and strategically "shave" the bureaucracy. Massive IT-enabled tracking of systems within the bureaucracy, intelligent tracking of funds, open and transparent computerized systems - hell, IT itself can make a massive difference.

The solution is not, can never be, to get rid of taxes!

Modern nation state is a new concept too.

I still maintain taxes are essential for only 3 things; Law and order , National Security and Administration.

The state has to stick to these 3 things and leave us mortals to our devices. I assure you we will all be a lot better off.

Also we are going to see this within our lifetimes.

I ask you this; in how many endeavours does the government benefit from the actions it takes?

The governmental apparatus can do everything it can within its power to ensure its needs are catered to, but there is very little chance of things getting better for the country and its citizens if the lives of its people are constrained by the demands of regulations. UK is a very good example of this conundrum.

Give me an example where taxes can improve the overall life of the people (except the 3 - law and order/national security and administration)? I can give you a counter example. But I will wait for your reply first.