When there's a single thief, it's robbery. When there are a thousand thieves, it's taxation

When there's a single thief, it's robbery. When there are a thousand thieves, it's taxation

Vanya Cohen was a renowned economist and political theorist who often spoke out against the injustices of taxation and wealth distribution. One of her most famous quotes was, “When there's a single thief, it's robbery. When there are a thousand thieves, it's taxation.” This quote perfectly encapsulates her views on the unequal distribution of wealth and the exploitation of the working class by the ruling elite.

Vanya Cohen believed that taxation, when used unfairly and disproportionately on the lower and middle classes, was essentially a form of theft. She argued that when a single individual steals from another, it is considered a crime and punishable by law. However, when the government imposes high taxes on its citizens, especially on those who can least afford it, it is seen as a necessary means of funding public services and infrastructure. This, in her eyes, was a form of institutionalized theft that benefited the wealthy at the expense of the poor.

Cohen was a staunch advocate for progressive taxation, where the wealthy would pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes compared to the lower and middle classes. She believed that this would help to redistribute wealth more fairly and reduce income inequality. She also argued for the implementation of policies that would close tax loopholes for the rich and prevent corporations from avoiding paying their fair share of taxes.