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Re:Ohio GOP ends attempt to ban municipal broadband after pr... by asdff on Tuesday June 29, 2021 @05:15PM (#27681824)
That's how taxes work. I don't have any children, but my taxes fund schools. My house isn't burning down, but my taxes fund fire departments. I don't commute with a car, but my taxes fund bridges and highways. There is a net economic benefit to pulling your fellow person out of the gutter when it comes to some things. We are all richer because we have an educated populace, cities that don't burn down, highways to move people and goods. To put it into HN friendly terms, all of these benefits increase the quality of our labor, which increases our valuation in the eyes of global investors and makes them want to invest in American companies and keep us paid and employed. And who knows, some day you might need help out of the gutter, too, or a fire put out.
Re:Ohio GOP ends attempt to ban municipal broadband after pr... by patrickthebold on Tuesday June 29, 2021 @06:12PM (#27682446)
I realize this isn't your point, but one of my pet peeves is about 'your taxes paying for other people's kids'.

Everyone gets to go to school for free, your taxes should be thought of as paying off your own education.

It seems silly to me that someone goes through public schools, then doesn't have kids and starts complaining that schools don't benefit them and they shouldn't have to pay.

Re:Ohio GOP ends attempt to ban municipal broadband after pr... by edmundsauto on Tuesday June 29, 2021 @07:50PM (#27683269)
> Everyone gets to go to school for free, your taxes should be thought of as paying off your own education.

What makes you think this is the correct perspective? Many Americans had parents who were educated abroad or not at all (if I'm paying for my education, what did my parents pay for?). Further, my education was less expensive than my education-focused-taxes are now - if I really were paying just for myself, shouldn't it be an inflation adjusted amount? Instead, I pay what it costs to educate a kid today.

Re:Ohio GOP ends attempt to ban municipal broadband after pr... by patrickthebold on Tuesday June 29, 2021 @08:49PM (#27683665)
It's one perspective. And I think it's a good one.

We're not 100% keeping score here: some kids will die they day after they graduate high school, but on the whole people start lives as children, have a period of productivity and then are too old to really be productive.

I think it's not good to be bitter about supporting the young or old while you are working because you have been and will be (to some rough approximation) supported by the previous and the next generation.

Re:Ohio GOP ends attempt to ban municipal broadband after pr... by yazaddaruvala on Tuesday June 29, 2021 @09:35PM (#27683920)
If you’re viewing it as “I’m paying off my own education” it should be considered an uncolateralized loan and you should be paying a high interest rate on it.

Roughly 15 years of education roughly $5k annually at an interest rate roughly set at 15% interest (you have no credit history or school grades to showcase your credibility).

Roughly owing $150k at the end of high school, and building until you can pay it off.

Re:Ohio GOP ends attempt to ban municipal broadband after pr... by SV_BubbleTime on Tuesday June 29, 2021 @06:41PM (#27682698)
>Everyone gets to go to school for free, your taxes should be thought of as paying off your own education.

Are you sure you want to make the argument that a public school education cost you many many times what a private school education would paid over a lifetime of taxes?

Of course not. There is nothing wrong with the argument you are paying for other people's kids. You are. It's a net good for society. I personal don't want roving gangs of uneducated youths who today are confined to schools all day, this is a big win for everyone. The day-prison system works well unless you're really interested in high quality education.

Deal with it, don't make weird excuses and pretend scenarios (like mine above).

Re:Ohio GOP ends attempt to ban municipal broadband after pr... by lliamander on Friday July 02, 2021 @02:41AM (#27708461)
> That's how taxes work. I don't have any children, but my taxes fund schools.

I know that's how taxes work. The point is that there's no reason that should apply to purchasing internet.

Even if you think it should be government provided, that doesn't mean it needs to be funded in that way. Many government utilities are billed to the consumer based on usage. There's no real public good in forcing me to pay for other people's internet.

Re:Ohio GOP ends attempt to ban municipal broadband after pr... by s1artibartfast on Tuesday June 29, 2021 @09:13PM (#27683813)
Another part of how taxes work is people decide what they they want to fund or not. It is possible for people and/or representatives to decide not to fund 'public goods'.

Something potentially offering a good to the public is not irrefutable argument that the government should do it.