<i>You could also see it as paying your dues, or even as doing your part in maintaining your society.</i><p>My duty is only to pay the minimum amount I am legally obliged to pay. Not one cent more.<p><i>Well, that&#x27;s the point of having a state.</i><p>That is only one point of view.<p>Some people feel the purpose of the state is to protect us from ourselves. I subscribe to the belief that the purpose of the state is to protect us from each other.<p>Namely, if I want to knowingly ingest poison (tobacco, alcohol, heroin or even drain cleaner), it&#x27;s my decision to make. If someone wants to surreptitiously lace wine with antifreeze and distribute it to others, the purpose of the state is to stop&#x2F;punish them.