'@NeframeTheCosmonaut' rivers have tributaries, therefore they receive non-monetary income in form of water. Individuals are taxed on direct income, unlike businesses they can't pay tax on income minus expenses. Plus, river as individual may have to apply for water use permits or whatever is required by local legislation, and it may be subject to penalties under environmental laws and regulations if river's action introduces contaminants into water.
Hydroelectric power plants can indeed be seen as a form of slavery, but that argument has to be made in court and there is probably something that can be argued about eminent domain and/or river trespassing on private, state or federal property.
317
'@NeframeTheCosmonaut' rivers have tributaries, therefore they receive non-monetary income in form of water. Individuals are taxed on direct income, unlike businesses they can't pay tax on income minus expenses. Plus, river as individual may have to apply for water use permits or whatever is required by local legislation, and it may be subject to penalties under environmental laws and regulations if river's action introduces contaminants into water.
Hydroelectric power plants can indeed be seen as a form of slavery, but that argument has to be made in court and there is probably something that can be argued about eminent domain and/or river trespassing on private, state or federal property.