Size of Government

Conservatives complain about high taxes, gigantic bureaucracy, ridiculous lawsuits, piles of forms, and envy. Liberals lament the cost of the military, the number of people in prison, police tactics, inherited wealth, wage slavery, and poverty. How about a system with:

• A low tax that is completely self-assessed with no legal penalty for non-compliance,
• No forms to fill out,
• Harsh penalties for frivolous lawsuits,
• No standing army,
• No jails!
• No police!
• Limits on wage slavery, a universal right to land ownership and interest-free capital so all have a chance at being financially independent,
• A welfare system open to all without question.

This is what we find in the Law of Moses – the Law of Liberty – if we look deeply enough.

After the conquest of Canaan, there was no standing army. It was a purely militia-based system. And even in times of war, sensitive peace-loving hippies were exempt from military service. (Had the United States followed this dictate, we might have won in Viet Nam.)

As for taxes, there was the annual tithe (10% of the increase of farm output) to support the priesthood. But this was more religious observance than actual support of government. The priests did some governmental functions, but not much – at least as far as I can tell. (Another 10% was to be spent for the three annual religious gatherings, but that was spent on self and family. A third 10% was assessed only on the “third year,” presumably of the 7-year cycle, for feeding the poor and for the priests.)

As far as I can tell, assessment was purely on the honor system. I can find no enforcement provisions other than divine wrath for those who paid less. In the Gospel account we are given a picture of the rich bringing in large amounts of offerings in an ostentatious display to show off their prosperity – much as modern rich people pay for buildings at universities and the like.

Of course, life without real government requires personal and civic responsibility. People were expected to take care of their parents in their old age. Wealthy people were to give zero interest loans to their poorer neighbors. Farmers were to form spontaneous armies in times of invasion. Eventually, the ancient Hebrews tired of this responsibility and demanded a king. The prophet Samuel’s response is one of the earliest libertarian statements on record.