Comment Re:What are we paying them for? (Score 4, Insightful) 221
Yes and no...
> Is the water you drink clean?
In some places, the local government is in charge of the water supply. In others it's subsidized and regulated by them. Either way, the government is in the loop.
> Is your food supply safe?
While this is always provided by private industry in this country, it is rather heavily regulated by the government at all levels to ensure a safe food supply.
> Do the lights come on when you flip a switch?
Again, in some places, the local government is in charge of the electricity supply while in others it's subsidized and regulated by them. Either way, the government is in the loop.
> Can you travel through the air at nearly the speed of sound for a few hundred dollars?
While the actual air travel is provided by private industry, you can thank the government for not having to worry about crashing into other planes midair, parts falling off the planes, (Due to safety regulations) and safety from terrorists and other baddies on planes. (#3 is debatable, although they are *trying*...)
> When you turn on the radio in your car, do you hear voices/music coming out of the speakers?
This is another area where, although private industry provides the actual service, the government makes it possible. The FCC licenses frequencies to certain groups and ensures they don't interfere with each other. Think of the madness if anyone could broadcast anything they wanted on any frequency!
> Can you read this message?
> Are you speaking English?
Although there is private education in this country, there is also free public education. It's highly likely that a person picked at random went to public school and learned to read and write there.
The government may not be perfect - none is - but it is functioning on some level and you are getting services from it, whether you like it or not. Your job as a citizen is to try to fix the parts of it which are broken.
