5 ms·

A mugger deciding to take my watch instead of my wallet is not a handout even if it leaves me better off than the other situation.

lostlogin 4y ago
When the mugger paid for your healthcare, education, roads, services, safety and security, the equation is a little different. The above list will vary depending on your location.
- ZeroGravitas 4y ago
  And you also send the same "mugger" to evict people from property you own, to reclaim debts you are contractually owed, and to tax people who use your intellectual property.
- ohCh6zos 4y ago
  Does that imply that any amount of money received came from the government, because the government had the ability to take more but decided not to pursue taking more?
  - lostlogin 4y ago
    Why would it? The analogy is pointless. Discussing the actual situation is more productive.
- cscurmudgeon 4y ago
  Same logic the mafia uses as you are paying for "protection" > When the mugger paid for your healthcare, education, roads, services, safety and security, the equation is a little different. Why did you leave out corruption? Are you implying none of our tax dollars go to waste and corruption? https://calmatters.org/commentary/2021/10/california-sees-wave-of-political-corruption/ https://calmatters.org/commentary/2021/10/california-sees-wa... https://missionlocal.org/2021/03/san-francisco-corruption/ https://missionlocal.org/2021/03/san-francisco-corruption/ I am okay not having million dollar toilets https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/bayarea/heatherknight/article/million-dollar-toilet-17518443.php https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/bayarea/heatherknight/article... Interestingly, the article does not classify money lost to corrupt state officials as welfare. Why? A slightly intelligent satire piece would have used corruption as welfare :)
  - lostlogin 4y ago
    > Why did you leave out corruption? In New Zealand this is a very small problem and we are arguably the least corrupt place on earth. I forgot it exists. https://www.transparency.org.nz/corruption-perceptions-index https://www.transparency.org.nz/corruption-perceptions-index
    - cscurmudgeon 4y ago
      Yes, but the article is about California. I am not sure how that is relevant. Also, New Zealand's population is less than that of SF Bay Area and one of the lowest density states in the world (hence more per capita access to resources). There will be similar sized patches in the US with similar levels of low corruption.

lostlogin 4y ago

When the mugger paid for your healthcare, education, roads, services, safety and security, the equation is a little different. The above list will vary depending on your location.

ZeroGravitas 4y ago
And you also send the same "mugger" to evict people from property you own, to reclaim debts you are contractually owed, and to tax people who use your intellectual property.
ohCh6zos 4y ago
Does that imply that any amount of money received came from the government, because the government had the ability to take more but decided not to pursue taking more?
- lostlogin 4y ago
  Why would it? The analogy is pointless. Discussing the actual situation is more productive.
cscurmudgeon 4y ago
Same logic the mafia uses as you are paying for "protection" > When the mugger paid for your healthcare, education, roads, services, safety and security, the equation is a little different. Why did you leave out corruption? Are you implying none of our tax dollars go to waste and corruption? https://calmatters.org/commentary/2021/10/california-sees-wave-of-political-corruption/ https://calmatters.org/commentary/2021/10/california-sees-wa... https://missionlocal.org/2021/03/san-francisco-corruption/ https://missionlocal.org/2021/03/san-francisco-corruption/ I am okay not having million dollar toilets https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/bayarea/heatherknight/article/million-dollar-toilet-17518443.php https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/bayarea/heatherknight/article... Interestingly, the article does not classify money lost to corrupt state officials as welfare. Why? A slightly intelligent satire piece would have used corruption as welfare :)
- lostlogin 4y ago
  > Why did you leave out corruption? In New Zealand this is a very small problem and we are arguably the least corrupt place on earth. I forgot it exists. https://www.transparency.org.nz/corruption-perceptions-index https://www.transparency.org.nz/corruption-perceptions-index
  - cscurmudgeon 4y ago
    Yes, but the article is about California. I am not sure how that is relevant. Also, New Zealand's population is less than that of SF Bay Area and one of the lowest density states in the world (hence more per capita access to resources). There will be similar sized patches in the US with similar levels of low corruption.