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I'm not convinced the Amish could survive without the rest of the US. For one thing, they refuse to serve in the military. For another, they don't pay much in
by gozur88 9y ago
I'm not convinced the Amish could survive without the rest of the US. For one thing, they refuse to serve in the military.
For another, they don't pay much in taxes. My relatives in PA get red in the face whenever you bring up the Amish, because in that area the county relies heavily on taxes levied on your electric bill. The first thing the Amish do when they move into the neighborhood is rip out the electric.
The other thing is there are dozens of sects people lump together as The Amish, and they all have different doctrine. Sometimes very different.
- in_cahoots 9y agoThe idea that the Amish survive off others' electric bill tax sounds more like a urban legend than fact. Let's be optimistic and assume the average household pays $500 / month in electricity and has a 10% tax rate; that's $50/ month / household divided by the entire state of Pennsylvania. Even if Pennsylvania is 50% Amish that's $25 / month in 'free' money for each Amish household. Hardly enough money to run a community off of.
- gozur88 9y agoTwo things. One, you've mischaracterized what I said. I said the county relies heavily on these taxes, not that the Amish "survive off" other people. Two, $50/month is a lot of money in rural PA.
- mixmastamyk 9y agoI don't understand what you're saying? The US is not under threat of invasion. Sure they should pay for public services they use, but what more are you asking?
- gozur88 9y agoA country completely populated by pacifists wouldn't last a generation. The US isn't under threat of invasion because non-Amish people are willing to join the military.
- mixmastamyk 9y agoThe Amish (and the rest of the US) would be just fine with a small fraction of current military expenditures.
- lovich 9y agoThat's still relying on a service that they refuse to be part of. Im not saying it's a bad position for them to take, but they are not willing to garuntee their own freedom
- rxhernandez 9y agoWhat is Iceland for $500, Alex?
- gozur88 9y agoDon't confuse a lack of preparedness with pacifism. Iceland is a member of NATO.