News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Who Pays for the Arts? by cvoss on Thursday October 03, 2024 @08:05AM (#41729890)
Consider that lots of people regularly and voluntarily give a certain percentage of their income to their religious institution, without any kind of enforcement structure. There is a belief that such practices are good, right, and required. And it must be a strong belief, because people do love their money.

Second, taxes are not a gift or donation, nor is the government just taking them from you. They are payment for services. It's true that you are locked into a business transaction with the government, but it's meant to be a fair exchange. And unless you are incredibly wealthy, you have a favorable rate in the sense that the services you receive are worth more than what you're paying for.

Re:Who Pays for the Arts? by chii on Thursday October 03, 2024 @10:38AM (#41731219)
> without any kind of enforcement structure.

it's peer pressure. Just because the force isn't voilence doesn't mean there isnt a reinforcement structure.

> They are payment for services.

so back to the art grants - are they services the citizens really want?

Re:Who Pays for the Arts? by int_19h on Thursday October 03, 2024 @12:35PM (#41732318)
As someone living in US, a significant part of my taxes is used to bomb some people overseas for no good reason that I can think of. The value of that "service" for me is effectively negative (it makes another 9/11 that much more likely).