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More Taxes = More Democracy

Tuesday 08 December 2009
by: Christian Chavagneux | Alternatives Économiques (French)

Researchers Andre Barilari and Thomas Brand have demonstrated that the tax man is a symbol of democracy. (Image: Howdy, I'm H. Michael Karshis)

For conservatives who go around repeating that more taxes are always equivalent to less individual freedom, two researchers recall Montesquieu's opposite teaching. And demonstrate, with the support of the numbers, that the French philosopher's observation still holds true two and a half centuries later.

In Book XIII of his work, "The Spirit of the Laws" (1748), Montesquieu enounces the following principle: "General Rule: one may raise higher taxes in proportion to subjects' freedom; and one is forced to moderate them to the extent that servitude increases." In other words, only democracies may allow themselves to raise significant taxes and high levels of taxation are a sign of democracy. (Full Story) (French Version)

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