# Links [[Taxation]] # Good and Evil ## Mostly Evil I just finished reading a book that every person who works, votes, pays taxes, or draws breath in America should read. The book by Charles Adams bears the title _For Good and Evil: The Impact of Taxes on the Course of Civilization_. It provides, as the subtitle indicates, an account of the influence of taxation on the development of history, and you can acquire it at the [Ludwig von Mises Institute](http://www.mises.org/store/For-Good-and-Evil-The-Impact-of-Taxes-on-the-Course-of-Civilization-Expanded-2nd-edition-P37C1.aspx). Although first written more than ten years ago, people in this country should reread this book once every year or two. If in fact we do repeat the history that we don’t learn from, citizens of this country need desperately to learn the lessons contained in this book. We need to learn those lessons and relearn them often. You need to read the book to appreciate the many historical accounts that Mr. Adams includes in the book. You will, however, learn from this book the one lesson that taxes have the power to destroy societies. I also believe that reading this book will cause you to reflect on the question of whether or not we have placed ourselves on the road to self-destruction with our current tax system. As highly as I recommend this book, I fault it for missing two critical points. First, I think Mr. Adams has been too kind to taxation. Taxation plays no _good_ role in a free society. I believe that taxation amounts to the confiscation of personal property—always an evil. One might argue about degrees of evil, but it represents evil none the less. Second, I don’t think he place enough emphasis on the role of government spending in increasing taxation. The evil in taxation really begins when governments commit to spend money that does not belong to them. Our country has a horrendous tax system, but fixing it, reforming it, or replacing it will not solve the real problem. We need to stop this government from buying political favor and power with money taken from others, regardless of their means.