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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: <267@kontron.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Jun-85 19:23:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: kontron.267
Posted: Mon Jun 24 19:23:24 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Jun-85 05:46:28 EDT
References: <642@whuxl.UUCP> <672@abnji.UUCP> <227@kontron.UUCP> <747@teddy.UUCP> <250@kontron.UUCP> <792@teddy.UUCP>
Organization: Kontron Electronics, Irvine, CA
Lines: 41

> In article <250@kontron.UUCP> cramer@kontron.UUCP (Clayton Cramer) writes:
> >> 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.
> 
> 
> I guest that's why libararies and parks are such a tremendous
> drain on our society.
> 
> Sport Death,
> Larry Kolodney

To quote the late Sen. Everett Dirksen, "A billion here, a billion there,
after a while, it adds up to real money."