Tbone on Nostr: Know what, I'm lazy today, so: The phrase "turtles all the way down" originates from ...
Know what, I'm lazy today, so:
The phrase "turtles all the way down" originates from a story about the nature of the universe. In the tale, a scientist explains that the Earth rests on the back of a giant turtle. When asked what the turtle stands on, the response is, "It's turtles all the way down," humorously suggesting an infinite regression of turtles supporting each other. The phrase is often used to describe situations where explanations or causes lead to an endless chain of dependencies, with no clear foundational answer.
Adapting this to "taxes all the way down" could humorously describe the pervasive and seemingly infinite nature of taxation in modern life. Here's how it might work:
Imagine someone asks, "Why do I pay so much in income taxes?" The answer might be, "To fund public services like roads and schools." But then they ask, "Why do those services cost so much?" The response could be, "Because the government has to pay contractors and employees." And if they ask, "Why do those costs keep rising?" The answer might be, "Because those contractors and employees also pay taxes, and their costs go up too." And so on—it's "taxes all the way down."
In this adaptation, the phrase highlights how taxes are embedded in every layer of economic activity, creating a complex, interdependent system where taxes seem to propagate endlessly, much like the turtles in the original metaphor. It’s a playful way to critique the inescapable and often convoluted nature of taxation.
The phrase "turtles all the way down" originates from a story about the nature of the universe. In the tale, a scientist explains that the Earth rests on the back of a giant turtle. When asked what the turtle stands on, the response is, "It's turtles all the way down," humorously suggesting an infinite regression of turtles supporting each other. The phrase is often used to describe situations where explanations or causes lead to an endless chain of dependencies, with no clear foundational answer.
Adapting this to "taxes all the way down" could humorously describe the pervasive and seemingly infinite nature of taxation in modern life. Here's how it might work:
Imagine someone asks, "Why do I pay so much in income taxes?" The answer might be, "To fund public services like roads and schools." But then they ask, "Why do those services cost so much?" The response could be, "Because the government has to pay contractors and employees." And if they ask, "Why do those costs keep rising?" The answer might be, "Because those contractors and employees also pay taxes, and their costs go up too." And so on—it's "taxes all the way down."
In this adaptation, the phrase highlights how taxes are embedded in every layer of economic activity, creating a complex, interdependent system where taxes seem to propagate endlessly, much like the turtles in the original metaphor. It’s a playful way to critique the inescapable and often convoluted nature of taxation.