Those who understand Henry George's call for a single tax on the value of land, and its implications regarding property rights, might wonder if George didn't have the following paragraph from Cato's Letter No. 62 in mind.
"The fruits of a man's honest industry are the just rewards of it, ascertained to him by natural and eternal equity, as is his title to use them in the manner which he thinks fit: And thus, with the above limitations, every man is sole lord and arbiter of his own private actions and property. A character of which no man living can divest him but by usurpation, or by his own consent."
George was also adamant that labor and its produce not be taxed. His single tax guaranteed that labor and capital receive their full reward.
And the preceding sentence is relevant, too:
ReplyDelete"By liberty, I understand the Power which every Man has over his own Actions, and his Right to enjoy the Fruit of his Labour, Art, and Industry, as far as by it he hurts not the Society, or any Members of it, by taking from any Member, or by hindering him from enjoying what he himself enjoys."
I wonder how far "society" extends. Does it, for example, include people in other countries, or are one's responsibilities only to one's own countrymen, and the rest be damned?
I'm thinking about the effects of colonialism, and some trade practices, and natural resources which fall under other peoples' soil.
If the peoples of other countries aren't part of one's concept of "society" a lot of things become acceptable.