Line by Line - Verse 75, Lines 2-3

because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors. It is through this that they suffer famine.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Because the rulers eat up the money in taxes.
Therefore the people are starving.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Is due to the excess of their ruler's taxation
So they starve
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

because the government
taxes them to death.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

These lines seem to be focused on the issue of government taxation, but I would offer that we are ruled by all sorts of leaders. In today's world, it seems we are overcharged for almost EVERY product and service. All along the supply chain, everyone expects their "fair share" of the profit. Sadly, many define the concept of "fair share" very, very liberally.

And so, we consumers are held over a barrel. We're charged through the nose for basic needs: food, clothing, shelter, education and health care. By the time many of us shell out what little we have to meet our basic needs, not much is left over. But our pennies and dollars are making some people egregiously rich!

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