... just to see my tax dollars go to droning people in Syria or giving bombs and guns to warlords in Africa...basically 99% of what our taxes are spent on I disagree with outright or have major qualms with the implementation of it. ...
The problem with rants is that grammatical precision is often lost and therefore one's meaning is often unclear.
First of all, 99% of our tax money does NOT go to bombing people in Syria and guns to warlords in Africa (or anywhere else, or even preparing to do so 'just in case'). That is a matter of pure fact that a few minutes of actual research could prove to any reasonably open mind.
Social services and military defense comprise the overwhelming bulk of our federal expenditures. Education and social services comprise the bulk of our state and local tax expenditures.
If you're complaint is that the government wastes a lot of money in meeting those needs, you would be right.
I would ask you what you have personally done about it in a get-off-your-ass and do the work sort of way. Have you volunteered to be on any city, county or state commissions or boards of trustees? There are host of such positions available and in need of volunteers to do them. They are a real way in which a regular citizen can have a much bigger voice in their government than you would ever believe. Your local government website probably has a listing of them.
For example, I've served on an advisory committee to the mass transit authority in my city. We regular citizens advised the transit authority and the city government as to what its priorities should be in the mass transit realm and our recommendations were largely followed.
As another example, I served on the board of directors for my county's department of mental health. This was more than an advisory position. All departmental employees were county employees except for the head of the agency. The head of the agency worked at the pleasure of the board of directors. In other words, if the head of the agency doesn't do what the board of directors thinks should be done, that person could be out of a job pronto. Let me tell you, that sort of arrangement provides proper motivation to listen to the regular citizens on the board.
And how did I get on said committees or boards? I showed up at their meetings, listened and took notes. I filled out the application and sent it in. No one knew who I was ahead of time, I'm not part of the old boy's club, etc.
No plan will work for all people in all circumstances. To think otherwise is to be foolish in the extreme. MMM gives useful, pragmatic, workable advice that will help darn near anyone improve their situation. Will everyone end up FI at age 35? No. Will everyone end up FI at age 45? No. Will everyone end up better off by following his advice? No.
But damn near everyone will. And you can take that to the bank.
So, instead of revving up the whining engine about those it won't help, why don't we focus on getting those that will be helped this kind of good advice and expect them to follow it? They are bound to end up better off than simply listening to you whine excuses for them.
Then, with those who can help themselves no longer needing as much help to get ahead, we can focus our resources on helping those for which MMM's advice truly won't help. That would be people with something more serious than a severe case of whiner's brain.