entire group of people that, not for reasons of poverty (although admittedly they are very poor), but for reasons of ideology, do not contribute to the government while still receiving its benefits.
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They pay VAT. Reb Amram Bloy ZYA is no longer here to issue his alternative currency, and even when he did, it did not cover everything. Even with that, VAT was paid somewhere along the line as I doubt Reb Amram ZYA could rely only on underground suppliers.
I try my best not to pay VAT when I visit EY. I cannot avoid it, nor do I get a full refund at the airport. My new policy is that I will not visit EY under “shilton hakoifrim” unless I can leave there with more money than I come in with.
I am planning to go shopping for things I cannot get where I am in Paris, so I can help the beleaguered Jews there. They suffer largely because of the medine and its failure to either win a decisive victory or make lasting peace. Meanwhile, some of them are foolishly jumping from the frying pan into the fire (and shoving their kids into the frei-ing pan) by making “aliya.”
I would also rather give business to my friends back in the US (which I do via online order) who are suffering economically due to the Obama regime than contribute one penny to the coffers of the koifers.