Taxation No Tyranny

Taxation No Tyranny is a political pamphlet written by Samuel Johnson in 1775. It argues against the American colonists' claims of "usurpation" and their opposition to taxation by the British Parliament, particularly the slogan "no taxation without representation".1

Johnson contended that the colonists had voluntarily left England and were therefore not entitled to representation in Parliament. He also asserted that England had invested significant resources in the colonies and that the colonists had a responsibility to contribute to the support of the home country. The pamphlet was controversial in the colonies and contributed to Johnson's image as a staunch Tory.1

In contrast, Gary Johnson, a presidential candidate, advocated for a single consumption tax to replace all income and payroll taxes, arguing that individuals could determine their tax burden through their spending decisions.2