Thank you. I do not have children and will not for many years, if ever. I simply cannot afford children, in large aprt as a result of the over 50% of my income taken through taxation. What I want is to pay my own way, and for others to do the same, or at least not steal from me to subsidize their expenses.

And the majority of road costs are (or at least should be) paid by local taxes and fuel/vehicle regsitration taxes. Even that portion which comes from local taxes benefits people local to those roads, as you mentioned. Would I prefer a private business free market solution? Yes, of course, as it would mean lower cost for roads than the current taxes I pay.

I don't. Laws don't protect, and it's not the government's job to protect anyone.

You do get roads, toll roads run by private companies as well as other roads paid for locally through taxation (vehicle registration tax, fuel tax, etc.). You get a lot fewer laws, as local laws would not be able to trump natural rights. I do not want anyone to pay to enforce my rights, I want government to stop violating my rights. I'm not entitled to anything, and neither are you. Nobody else should pay for something I use. Education is not a right, food is not a right.

What services exactly is the government providing me? In the context of this dicscussion, education, there is already a free market alternative... Private schools. In my area private schools are often cheaper than state run schools and clearly offer a better education. The problem is, everyone is forced at gunpoint to subsidize someone else's education. If parents had to pay for their children's education themselves they would choose the better private schools at lower cost than state run schools. There is no free market, so only the rich can afford to send their children to good/better schools since they cna afford to pay twice while the rest of us cannot.

Yep, I'm curious on the content and how well I'd do.

The problem is spending other people's money (taken at gunpoint, mind you) on your kids. Pay for your own children's education, don't rob me to do it.

As opposed to going to Africa so small children can burn the elctronics while breathing the plastic and other toxic fumes then sift through the toxic burnt mess for copper and other metals? I suppose those children need a job so they can get food for the day, but it doesn't seem any mroe environmentally friendly if that's your argument.

Agreed. Rich people well into six figures wasnt toys instead of tools to do their job, and they want them for free despite the fact that they cna easily afford their own personal toys without struggling financially. Then the rest of us get shafted with at best, a raise to cover the official rate of inflation, which is a far cry from the real rate of inflation (look at what things cost vs a year or two ago!), or more typically a much smaller raise if any... On top of already being below median wage for a particular job. The icing on the cake is the six figure people get bonuses in the tens of thousands of dollars for shafting all the rest of us on raises/cost of living adjustments. At the bare minimum,simply doing an adequate job (not a spectacular job) a 3%-4% raisae is in order. Those who do very well or go above and beyond should get significantly greater than that, to get above the real inflation rate. Anything less is an annual pay cut. That stuff infuriates me and is a great demotivator.

This is similar to studies I've read abotu money buying happiness. Money does most certainly buy happiness. Well, up to about $88k/yr it does. After that, it does not buy a significant amount of additional happiness. I'm sure the number varies a bit depending on cost of living in your area, but I live ina very expensive part of the country to live, and government takes well over half my pay in taxes. As I get closer to $88k a year I find myself less disgruntled at work and generally happier aboth at work and in life.

At $88k I could afford to have nice things and enjoy a few hobbies. Where I'm at now, I'm getting close to being able to afford nice things, like keeping the heat above 50* in winter, eating meat more than once a week, maybe painting my car so it looks nice and isn't rusty, have a few hobbies, own a TV, maybe even a cable TV package, etc. At $88k those problems disappear and life gets a lot more comfortable. Sure I'd still want things, but I'd actually be able to prioritize my wants and save for the ones I want the most, and maybe even get some of those wants some day.

So for me, money is a huge motivator and it lasts a long time. So long as the company is treating me well and giving decent raises where I can see myself soon at a level of not having to worry about money for necessities and maybe a few "nice things" I will remember that every time I get irritated or my motivation falls. It has been maybe 6 months since last raise season and another 6 months to go but my last raise and the prospect of another good raise is still a very big motivator for me. I'm a principled person, so cannot do wrong to a company that is doing right by me.

Your calculations don't factor inflation, either proclaimed by the cronies at 3% or real inflation at over double that rate. Better spend your money now while it's can buy more. Just a point to consider, I didn't run the numbers.

... unless being in jail is preferable to whatever your situation is right now.