https://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2010/02/22/good-news-from-harry-reid-taxes-voluntary/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usWed, 10 Jun 2026 09:34:55 -0400<![CDATA[Yes, that’s right folks: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid believes—at least, he says over and over again in this interview—that  when it comes to paying taxes in this country, “our system is a voluntary system.” When the interviewer suggests that in order to pay welfare benefits to parties of the first part, the government forcibly takes money from parties of the second part, Senator Reid oscillates between indignation and incomprehension.  Of course, you may not cheat on your taxes, he allows, but really, at bottom, our system of taxation—unlike, he says, the system in many European countries—is &#8220;voluntary.&#8221; But, says the interviewer, following my own thought processes like a leopard, if you don’t pay your taxes, the government will first fine you and ultimately, should your recalcitrance be serious enough, will  put you in jail.]]>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:59:55 -0500<![CDATA[Roger Kimball]]>https://pjmedia.com/roger-kimball/2010/02/22/good-news-from-harry-reid-taxes-voluntary-n116260