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Comment by ggm | Hacker News Reader

I can't rebut this without being insulting, or dismissive of the situation you have to live in. I am sorry you are living in such constraint. I continue to believe you are wrong "less tax" will fix your problem but I can say that from the comfort of an economy with a fully hypothicated medicare tax, and something approaching universal health coverage.

I do not believe paying less tax will fix the kind of cynical systematic corrupt behaviour of your mayor, and other tiers of government.

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I don't think paying less tax will fix the corrupt behavior of my mayor either, but it would limit my exposure and loss.

Fundamentally, the urge to eliminate taxes and reduce the size of the government is a vote of no confidence. Not just now,but permanently. It's not a vote for reform. I don't think the government leadership has my best interests at heart. I think it would happily take everything I have and leave me to starve in the street if it could.

You certainly probably feel that, but I do not believe you thought your way into this position.

I would argue it is you that has not seen the balance sheets, absurdly high line items, or worked for a government contractor - else you would 100% agree with his stance on taxation.

A huge chunk of government spending is a horrendous waste/scam and you will likely never understand this unless you take the initiative to look at the spending breakdowns or actually spend a bit of time at a government contractor.

No, I didn't think my way into it. I initially thought myself into thinking efficient government was possible, then I watched the government callously destroy friends and family. Watched them be eminent domained without compensation. Watched their businesses and retirement plans capriciously taken away, often for no practical reason.

These real world observations demonstrated my theoretical model was flawed.

> I don't think the government leadership has my best interests at heart

And for-profit companies have your best interest at heart? With government services you can at least optimize for goals other than profit.

Wanting to cut whatever tax is going to those sheds has nothing to do with for-profit companies. They are not the alternative. The alternative is not having the tax.

> you can at least optimize for goals other than profit.

The goal should be providing the service I want for the least tax dollars possible.

The government is horrendous at doing this. There is no performance or competitive incentive.

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