When we allow the Provincial Governments to pick a pie from the private pocket of an individual citizen, we should see to it that it is obtained only willingly, and that every pie that we drawn from the pocket of a private individual must ultimately go back to him either in the shape of services rendered to that individual or in the shape of an enhanced sum returned to him. Today in India hundreds of taxes are being realised, and the people do not really get any substantial benefit out of these taxes, either in the shape of additional ‘prosperity’ which they are told to expect from Government or any other kind of service. Whatever little service the State renders here in India is a further charge on the people. For instance, there are the railways which is an amenity given to people, but then it is run on a commercial basis and people are to pay for it. The telegraphs, the Post Office, the canals and everything else which go as services, we make extra charges for them. The State renders no free service to the people except a few dozes of quinine mixtures mixed with water that the State gives free to some poor people. Otherwise even doctors charge their fees and treat the people on payment. So we see that the State is not actually rendering any free service except that we are giving our citizens a psychological satisfaction to enjoy in their belief that they are a free people. They do not know what is the value of freedom. State justifies taxation on the plea that it defends the borders against wars. Wars never come alone, and when a war comes, it brings an extra tax along.
