Taxation is the price we pay for failing to build a civilized society. The higher the tax level, the greater the failure. A centrally planned totalitarian state represents a complete defeat for the civilized world, while a totally voluntary society represents its ultimate success.

The quote by Mark Skousen, "Taxation is the price we pay for failing to build a civilized society. The higher the tax level, the greater the failure. A centrally planned totalitarian state represents a complete defeat for the civilized world, while a totally voluntary society represents its ultimate success," presents a critical view of government involvement in economic and social systems. Skousen argues that when a society fails to establish effective, self-sustaining systems for managing its needs, it resorts to taxation as a means of funding its activities. In his view, higher taxes are a reflection of a society's failure to develop a more efficient, self-reliant structure.

The origin of this quote comes from Skousen's perspective as an economist and libertarian thinker. He is known for his critiques of government intervention and his advocacy for free markets and voluntary exchanges. According to Skousen, taxation is a necessary but undesirable consequence of societal inefficiencies. He suggests that when government control grows, particularly through centralized planning, it undermines individual freedoms and the success of a civilized society.

Skousen contrasts the idea of a totalitarian state, where the government has significant control over the economy and citizens' lives, with a voluntary society, which operates on the principles of personal freedom, limited government, and individual responsibility. The totalitarian state symbolizes a failure in creating a civilized society because it imposes excessive control, whereas the voluntary society represents an idealized model where people cooperate freely without the need for force or coercion, and taxation is minimized.

In essence, this quote reflects Skousen's belief in the power of the individual and the importance of limiting government intervention. He views taxation as a necessary evil that arises from the inability to establish a more effective and self-sustaining system. Ultimately, he argues that a truly civilized society is one that fosters voluntary cooperation and limits the need for coercive policies like high taxation and totalitarian control.