The difference is marginal in my view. The only difference now is that they wear suits and bleed you slowly instead of putting you out of your misery with one shot.

Time for a coffee.

State taxes and violent robberies.

Not a marginal difference, but I give up. You need to discuss the matter with people who went through the latter.

Like… everybody?

I pay taxes. Seems pretty different to me.

The difference is obfuscation and normalization.

At the end of the day they're still taking your resources under threat of violence.

The commenter was instructed to ask people who have actually paid taxes. My point is that everyone does. I’m a valid person to ask my experience. It’s not scary. I doubt anybody who has been mugged would say the same.