Which is truly why it is silly to talk about "free" stuff. Everything the government does is technically "free". We all get "free" electricity, oil, food, roads, police, firemen, military, politicians, libraries, primary and secondary education, weather data, justice, etc. . So when the GOP talks about tax cuts they are saying that you can have all the same government for less money. ie "free" benefits. When the GOP add to military spending without raising taxes, they are creating a "free" military.
You're using a straw man argument because you're talking "existing" expenses where the usage is directly "shared by everyone", such as the military and police that protect the nation and community at large, and I was never talking about existing expenses but rather the additional "free stuff" to pander to specific blocks of people. Again, here is a list of some of the new "ideas" that are being promoted by the candidates:
free pre-K
UBI dividend (not really universal, has exclusions)
$6000 tax credit (has exclusions, even for poor elderly)
baby bonds
reparations
free college
wiped college debt
mandated paid family leave
free child care
healthcare for illegals
There's also the $15/hr minimum wage increase, which will ultimately be paid for out of taxpayer's pockets.
Using the word "free" so ubiquitously makes it lose all meaning and is nothing more than a calling card for declaring your political affiliation.
Well, I don't support politicians promising more and more "free" stuff to people just to win votes, even more so when it hurts other blocks of people or puts a greater tax burden on others. There's an unfairness to it, and we can't afford it. As for political affiliation, I'm the one who brought up "free stuff", and I have no political affiliation. Why do you think I've been speaking favorably of the front-runner Biden and a couple other candidates? I'm an independent who has voted for for both republicans and democrats in both federal and state/local elections. I don't drink anyone's Kool-aid and am more of a realist across the board.
Usage may be "shared by everyone" but everyone is paying different amounts. A large majority of citizens are receiving "free" (ie subsidized) money in the form of cheaper utility prices, oil, food, etc. So maybe you're in the upper echelon of tax payers, if so, congrats.
By "existing expenses" you mean "existing free stuff". I mean I'm really just following your example of how you're using the word "free". "I don't want
that free stuff because I can't see how it will benefit me. But the free stuff I'm getting today is all fine and dandy."
You're talking about what will create a larger tax burden for yourself, but half the items you listed wouldn't have anything to do with your personal bottom line, so I don't know why you continue to list them all or care so deeply about making sure they
don't happen. For example, universal pre-k has been studied to actually be a net gain for society (ie it would overall lower your personal tax burden). Wiped college debt is being proposed to be paid for by a wall street tax (ie not additional income tax), this whole forum is against high trading, so I would guess you would pay relatively little of that. "Healthcare for illegals" already happens in ER's, adding them to a structured program would likely reduce costs to the system.
So no, none of this would "hurt you or other blocks of people" these are all systemic issues that are causing hurt on our entire system. Some of these would actually create more money than they would cost. BUT
other people have already mentioned this in the thread, so I don't know why you continue to pretend like they're going to increase your tax burden. You were given a free secondary education. congrats! The government invested in you and then you paid back that investment many times over. Now think about what on your list of "freebees" are actually government investments in its own people. Will that investment pay itself back and then some? If so, then you should be supporting it enthusiastically, because that is basically "free" money that overall will decrease
your future tax burden.
As for political affiliation, I'm the one who brought up "free stuff", and I have no political affiliation. Why do you think I've been speaking favorably of the front-runner Biden and a couple other candidates? I'm an independent who has voted for for both republicans and democrats in both federal and state/local elections. I don't drink anyone's Kool-aid and am more of a realist across the board.
That's still a political affiliation.
Which is truly why it is silly to talk about "free" stuff. Everything the government does is technically "free". We all get "free" electricity, oil, food, roads, police, firemen, military, politicians, libraries, primary and secondary education, weather data, justice, etc. .
Wow. We paid $40k plus in taxes last year for our "free" stuff.
I'm guessing you included all your state and property taxes in that number, so I have no idea how to actually measure that number.