@55bca1bf I have a limited resource; time. I trade that time to others for value ("money"). The government imposes a tax on the entirety of the receiving end of the trade saying it is "income". Income, to my knowledge, isn't statutorily defined. But it means gains above and beyond your basis. A *trade* of my time for value isn't a gain; I've lost time. The value of basis remains the same on both sides of the transaction because I've voluntarily traded one for the other.

"Taxation" is theft.