[MD] Value and the Individual

[Arlo Bensinger]

Craig,

You claim my analogy is "bad", but you completely evade the point. 
Kudos. A Platt move.

I had said, "Everyone pays school taxes. It has nothing to do with 
_your_ child's attendance. It benefits everyone to have an educated 
populace. So we all pay, just like even those without cars have to 
chip in for road repair."

This has nothing to do with "individuals" repairing the road before 
they travel (I'm not even sure how you came up with that one). My 
point is... should people with NO cars be forced to pay taxes to 
support road repairs? My answer is "yes", because even the person 
with "no car" relies on the public infrastructure of roads to move 
goods, to sustain community employment, and for rapid response of 
emergency vehicles. That is, it is in the best interests of EVERYONE, 
even those without cars, to chip in and pay for road repairs.

I contend the same goes for education. It is in the best interests of 
EVERYONE to sustain an educated population. Therefore it is something 
that EVERYONE should kick in for, regardless of whether or not YOU 
personally have a child. So your "school tax" is not designed to pay 
for "your child's" education. It is designed to sustain an educated populace.

What you are doing is confusing this tax as only a "tuition" for 
"your child". Then saying those attending private schools are paying 
twice. That's just wrong. The "tax" is a public tax levied on ALL 
citizens to sustain an educated populace. Whether or not YOU take 
advantage of the public schools with your child is your choice. So 
you have one payment that is everyone's contribution to sustaining an 
educated populace, and another that is your optional choice to send 
your child to a "private" school and pay tuition there.

So let me clarify your position, should families (or single adults) 
with no children pay educational "tax" at all?

Should families with children be compelled by the government to send 
their children to a school? Why?

And let's add one... should families without cars be required to pay 
taxes to repair the roads? Why?

Arlo

PS: My analogies are only "bad" to you because they highlight the 
flaws in your thinking. But maybe if you answer the above questions, 
we can move beyond my "bad" analogies and your "flawed" thinking.