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Can we please stop bringing police, fire, roads, and schools into every single discussion on taxes? We all know that's not all governments spend money on. We
by waterlesscloud 16y ago
Can we please stop bringing police, fire, roads, and schools into every single discussion on taxes?
We all know that's not all governments spend money on. We all know there's a good deal that could be cut before these basic services are cut. We know that, so why do we insist on pretending otherwise?
- Anechoic 16y agoWe all know that's not all governments spend money on "Police, fire, roads, and schools" are the things that affect and impact every US citizen most everyday, so it's fair to consider them. But of course governments spend money on other things - governments in the USA spend money on welfare (using the term in it's broadest sense), military/defense, health, national park, R&D in a variety of areas, interest payments, science, search & rescue, libraries/museums, workplace safety, courts, arts, media, and so on. Yes, any of those can be cut before hitting basic services, but my premise hasn't changed - cutting most (if not all) of these will still result in a cost for individuals that people generally don't factor into what they perceive to be their in-pocket money in a no-tax/lower-tax world.
- tptacek 16y agoMostly, what we spend money on is services for retirees. Then national defense. This is highly relevant to the discussion --- moreso than fire, police, roads, etc --- because without a social safety net guaranteeing some minimal standard of living (and, particularly, health care) for our close relatives, many entrepreneurs would be forced to optimize their careers to the benefit of their relatives. You have a point. Unfortunately it wounds the larger argument I presume you're trying to support.