first a minor point, henry:
Quote:
es·o·ter·ic/ˌesəˈterik/
Adjective: Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.
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So, you think that government SHOULD be involved in complex or obscure issues, and in physical infrastructure issues? What issues are esoteric enough for government involvement?
Moving on to broader issues:
How do you calculate your "bill" for your benefit when, for example, a student who attended public schooling and a public university (which you believe you shouldn't have to pay for without personal benefit) then uses that education directly to invent a process that increases manufacturing efficiency across a wide range of products, which you can then purchase much more cheaply than you did before, thus saving you money?
How do you calculate your "bill" for the fact that some potential criminals may have been deterred by the threat of prison? Should victims of crimes have to pay more in taxes because they used the criminal justice system more?
Playing devil's advocate earlier, UT mentioned that 911 is a joke - but while self-defense against violent crime is certainly a personal responsibility, there is MUCH more to the way a government-run law enforcement and criminal justice system can extend "protection" to citizens than the immediate protection from immediate physical threat of violence.
And what about a "safety net"? Do you think that the destitute, or homeless, or even just unemployed, should not have access to roads, or phone lines, or police protection, or education, or life-saving health care, or ANY government support whatsoever, until they can pay for it? If so, how do you expect them to become able to pay for them?
relatedly: what causes poverty? Are the impoverished ALL just unwilling to make the effort to rise out of poverty? Is it possible to have a country where every single person willing to "try hard enough" can and does rise out of poverty, or can Bad Luck or circumstances beyond their control cause poverty or keep them impoverished too?
And if the poor can be poor for reasons beyond their control - is that just too bad, so sad, talk to the hand, Not My Problem?