> Does it? Maybe the right answer is not to make all decisions in one place: maybe the right answer is to let every citizen make his or her own decisions. That

> Does it? Maybe the right answer is not to make all decisions in one place: maybe the right answer is to let every citizen make his or her own decisions. That is one of the possible decisions, yes. It does seem to be the decision the US is going with, for the most part. (I'm a little confused what you mean by "cancel cable" - do you live somewhere where the cost of a monthly cable TV bill is comparable to the cost of a monthly rent bill?) > would you at age 60, with another 20 years to live, rather be earning 0.06% (the current savings account rate) or 1% (or more) per annum? It depends on the risk profile. If you can guarantee me 1% or more per annum without risk, then obviously I'll take it, but if you could make that guarantee, then savings accounts would just make the same investment and offer 1% interest too. Also, if you tell me that my options are earning 1% on my savings and setting up a system of complex dependencies that leads to a thousand people becoming homeless over the rest of my life, or 0.06% and not doing so, that may influence my answer.