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No, because I can't be sure that my peers also "take advantage" of it to the same extent. I and many people are happy to contribute more, but only if others al

No, because I can't be sure that my peers also "take advantage" of it to the same extent. I and many people are happy to contribute more, but only if others also contribute more. Especially if people better off than me (like my landlord) aren't paying their fair share, that strongly indicates to me that I should not pay my fair share either.

claydavisss 8y ago
Your landlord is paying what society asks. Who are to say this isn't fair? In any case your excuse is a cop out, you're just a lazy complainer. Typical California...on your high horse but someone else has to act first. Just write a check to the FSB and stop making excuses why you can't follow through
- Redoubts 8y ago
  > Your landlord is paying what society asks. Who are to say this isn't fair? He's a member of society. You can't say "society asks", and then complain when someone wants to change people's minds. The current state of affairs isn't necessary and absolutely correct.
meddlepal 8y ago
Who cares what your peers are doing. In your ideology every penny counts, so why not be the first one? You're a complainer. Start a movement. Be the change you want to see. I'm sure there's still a pithy Twitter hashtag to be had out there for you and others that agree with you but are afraid to take the first step.
- fzeroracer 8y ago
  Your logic is incredibly flawed and assumes that the prisoners dilemma does not exist. If I donate money to the government expecting it to improve things, I can't expect other people to be donating the same amount because it's impossible for me to know. If we consider people to be rational actors (as free markets often do), the free market would effectively dictate that no one would donate money to the government because that would be against their own self-interests. Additionally it ignores the fact that I as an individual have far less influence than say, Elon Musk or Bezos with the amounts of contributions they make.
- int_19h 8y ago
  A penny doesn't count. A million pennies does.
- infinity0 8y ago
  Why are you calling my rationality "ideology"? It is perfectly rational not to want to pay for other people, if they don't also pay for themselves. It is obvious that some societal services need income from everyone, so I am perfectly happy to pay tax - as long as everyone else pays their fair share. OTOH you seem to be blinded by some ideology that pretends that the rest of the world doesn't exist, and that only your own actions matter.

claydavisss 8y ago

Your landlord is paying what society asks. Who are to say this isn't fair? In any case your excuse is a cop out, you're just a lazy complainer. Typical California...on your high horse but someone else has to act first. Just write a check to the FSB and stop making excuses why you can't follow through

Redoubts 8y ago
> Your landlord is paying what society asks. Who are to say this isn't fair? He's a member of society. You can't say "society asks", and then complain when someone wants to change people's minds. The current state of affairs isn't necessary and absolutely correct.

meddlepal 8y ago

Who cares what your peers are doing. In your ideology every penny counts, so why not be the first one? You're a complainer. Start a movement. Be the change you want to see. I'm sure there's still a pithy Twitter hashtag to be had out there for you and others that agree with you but are afraid to take the first step.

fzeroracer 8y ago
Your logic is incredibly flawed and assumes that the prisoners dilemma does not exist. If I donate money to the government expecting it to improve things, I can't expect other people to be donating the same amount because it's impossible for me to know. If we consider people to be rational actors (as free markets often do), the free market would effectively dictate that no one would donate money to the government because that would be against their own self-interests. Additionally it ignores the fact that I as an individual have far less influence than say, Elon Musk or Bezos with the amounts of contributions they make.
int_19h 8y ago
A penny doesn't count. A million pennies does.
infinity0 8y ago
Why are you calling my rationality "ideology"? It is perfectly rational not to want to pay for other people, if they don't also pay for themselves. It is obvious that some societal services need income from everyone, so I am perfectly happy to pay tax - as long as everyone else pays their fair share. OTOH you seem to be blinded by some ideology that pretends that the rest of the world doesn't exist, and that only your own actions matter.