I pay taxes knowing that I won’t benefit directly from many of my country’s programs. New train lines? I drive. Free health care? I’m healthy. Free school lunches? I’m not a child and I don’t have children. Social housing? I own my apartment.
But the thing is, I benefit directly. It means that everyone around me has a reasonable standard of living. I’m surrounded by healthy, literate people with clean clothes and full bellies. That pushes my standard of living up. I’m happy to be taxed.
It also means when you do need them they are available. Car broke down, take the train. Get sick, hospitals aren’t backed up with people that don’t have preventative care and are more acutely sick than should be. This statement also includes homeless that get sick from living on the street and fill EDs.
I pay taxes knowing that I won’t benefit directly from many of my country’s programs. New train lines? I drive. Free health care? I’m healthy. Free school lunches? I’m not a child and I don’t have children. Social housing? I own my apartment.
But the thing is, I benefit directly. It means that everyone around me has a reasonable standard of living. I’m surrounded by healthy, literate people with clean clothes and full bellies. That pushes my standard of living up. I’m happy to be taxed.
It also means when you do need them they are available. Car broke down, take the train. Get sick, hospitals aren’t backed up with people that don’t have preventative care and are more acutely sick than should be. This statement also includes homeless that get sick from living on the street and fill EDs.
Also new train line means less traffic and public healthcare means less spread of disease