Because, it may be your neighbor, your co-worker or your friend, but someone near to you is an idiot.

Because, it may be your neighbor, your co-worker or your friend, but someone near to you is an idiot. And they probably voted Tea Party.

Originally shared by God Emperor Lionel Lauer

This is how brainwashed people have become.
I would never believe the following story, if not for the fact that I've had almost the identical conversation with an otherwise intelligent Libertarian guy about Universal Healthcare - to him, it was worth paying more for healthcare to ensure that the 'undeserving' didn't get anything for free:

The previous fall, voters had rejected a plan to raise their own taxes to cover a shortfall in revenues. Local officials then warned that they’d have to end certain services, like neighborhood community centers, park maintenance, and streetlights.

Undeterred, local residents decided to chip in to clean up in local parks, and, ultimately, the city decided to privatize some services. The city started an “adopt a streetlight” program after residents were upset about dangerous, darkened streets. This American Life documented life in the town in the year after the city government drastically cut its services, and shared this story from the local mayor, Jan Martin:

[A] gentleman came up to me and actually thanked me for the adopt a street light program. He had just written a check to the city for $300 to turn all the street lights back on in his neighborhood. And I did remind him that for $200 if he had supported the tax initiative, we could have had not only streetlights, but parks and firemen and swimming pools and community centers. That by combining our resources, we as a community can actually accomplish more than we as individuals.

Robert Smith: And he said?

Jan Martin: He said he would never support a tax increase.

Robert Smith: So for him it wasn’t the money. He was willing to pay more to turn on the street lights than to pay for all city services.
http://www.salon.com/2012/08/21/the_feds_do_it_better_salpart/

Comments

Matt Anderson said…
In a perfect world our tax dollars go exclusively toward bettering the lives of all. In the world we live in, a significant portion of our tax dollars are wasted in a failed system. Those who refuse to allow their earned income to be wasted by a grossly inefficient government should be commended.
Nan Anastasia said…
Those who spend more on street lights and don't also get the parks, firefighters, swimming pools and community centers they could have had for less money through a tax increase are idiots, Matt Anderson. Read the post again. Or get someone to read it to you.
Greg Wolkins said…
because naturally anyone who disagrees with you must be an idiot
Matt Anderson said…
I can read just fine, thank you Nan.  And blow me.
NJ Stevenson said…
I'd rather contribute to the whole, not punish people (who don't deserve it) for inefficiency , and keep the services I need, may use, and don't use... AND keep the $100 in my pocket to pay for shit I need.

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