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From: cramer@kontron.UUCP (Clayton Cramer)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Taxes: the cost of Civilization & Democracy: Reply to JoSH
Message-ID: <250@kontron.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Jun-85 15:52:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: kontron.250
Posted: Mon Jun 17 15:52:09 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 19-Jun-85 04:21:06 EDT
References: <642@whuxl.UUCP> <672@abnji.UUCP> <227@kontron.UUCP> <747@teddy.UUCP>
Organization: Kontron Electronics, Irvine, CA
Lines: 30

> In article <227@kontron.UUCP> cramer@kontron.UUCP writes:
> >
> >When I ran for Santa Monica City Council (*very* unsuccessfully) several
> >years ago, I did a little digging through the city budget.  I found that
> >less than 50% of the city's residents used the library, according to the
> >library's own figures.  (No, I don't mean they had library cards, I mean
> >*used* the library.)  Yet everyone in the city, and everyone who shopped
> >in Santa Monica, was paying taxes to support it.  Why should everyone be
> >forced to pay for a non-essential (though pleasant) service that only
> >a minority use?
> 
> The people who actually go to the library and take out the books are
> not the only ones to benefit from its existence.  A well educated populace
> benefits all by making for a richer civilization.  
> 	
> Same is true for parks.  Having these available provides a vital
> outlet for urban dwellers in our society.  Even if you don't use
> any parks, your neighbors probably do, thus making for happier neighbors,
> and a nicer society in general.
> 
> -- 
> larry kolodney
> 
What a fascinating concept!  Why doesn't the government provide prostitutes
free of charge?  Fast cars for everyone at taxpayer expense?  All 
restaurants, free?  It sure would make everyone a lot happier, wouldn't
it?  In fact, the cost of any good or service should be borne by the
person who most directly benefits from it, lest we bankrupt our government
trying to satisfy every want.  Without paying a price, people use and
abuse all of the facilities that are offered, without limit.