"if i was in any doubt, as to the right which the parliament of great britain had to tax us without our consent, i should most heartily coincide with you in opinion, that to petition, and petition only, is the proper method to apply for relief; because we should then be asking a favor, and not claiming a right, which, by the law of nature and our constitution, we are, in my opinion, indubitably entitled to. i should even think it criminal to go farther than this, under such an idea; but none such i have. i think the parliament of great britain hath no more right to put their hands into my pockets, without my consent, than i have to put my hands into yours for money; and this being already urged to them in a firm, but decent manner, by all the colonies, what reason is there to expect anything from their justice? "

-george washington, letter to bryan fairfax (july 20, 1774)

why does washington believe that just asking the british government to reduce taxes is the wrong course of action?