Private investors examine projects carefully and they decide how much money they want to invest according to the odds of success and failure. If the investment is a success, the private investor profits. If not, the investor loses money. No matter the outcome, it's the investor who is effected by the financial outcome of the project. If the project fails, the investor takes the hit - nobody else does. This is good for people who decide not to invest in projects because they don't get hit with debt when and if the project goes under.
The government isn't some sort of magical entity. The government is an investing agency that plays by special rules available to nobody else. The government does not invest its own money into projects - it invests OUR money into projects against our will. Not only that, but the government is allowed to rack up debt whereas private investors must stay out of debt. If the government invests well... well, who knows what happens? Can you actually think of a single government program that turns a profit? When the government invests poorly, the government doesn't lose out - we do instead.
I disagree with the idea that the government should be lending debt from privatized institutions to begin with. The government should be the sole arbiter of currency -- central bank -- not privatized third parties.
What if the government decided to invest in solar roadways?
[video=youtube;qlTA3rnpgzU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlTA3rnpgzU[/video]
Do you feel the government should invest in this project? What about those who don't want to spend their tax dollars on this project, why can't they invest in an alternative?
I think it's a good idea. So far as tax dollars, I believe its the governments responsibility to use the tax dollars of its citizens for the citizens' benefit, as they feel is correct. If investing in this meant government road ways that generated cheaper electricity for x Americans and had x effect on the environment, then providing it is within taxation budgets and not built on borrowed money from privatized institutions then yea. In fact, I think lending money should be something governments shouldn't do nor have to do -- government should never be under the thumb of currency, currency should be under the thumb of government. Centralized bank, please.
The same is true for healthcare as well. Why do I have to buy health insurance? Why can't I invest $100 into my bank account every month and let it built into a sizable enough sum to pay for most medical conditions I might obtain in the future?
You shouldn't ''have' to buy health insurance, but considering the very socieoeconomic system we live in dictates that there
must be poorer people (otherwise how can there be richer ones), and that there are never enough jobs to gain full employment for all citizens, it should be a consideration by those who uphold that system to provide for those citizens unable to find medical means. If you'd rather save five hundred grand for all your future medical expenses then you should have that right, but you should still have to pay taxes to help those who can't afford to do that. Otherwise, we might as well call our socioeconomic system Social Darwinism, like a twisted form of eugenics ''you got none of this currency that makes people valid enough to live? And you have cancer?? .... Send him to the camp''.
Or why can't I choose to invest in whatever healthcare system I choose? Why should I be forced to invest in certain healthcare systems? Why should I be forced to invest in a government system if I feel another system would fit my needs better?
Because 350 million people live in America. Millions of independent systems would be shambles.
The problem is, good intentions don't maximize the efficiency of results. This is why people are generally careful in how they invest their money. But let's face it, the government is anything but careful with money. Worst of all, we're the ones paying.
I agree. The government are often careless. Military expenditure springs to mind. I can, however, understand and even stand behind risks motivated by desire to see people better off. Risks like social healthcare, or a robust benefits and back-to-work system, or community projects for underprivelaged people, or for free education.
I decided college wasn't for me. So why am I paying taxes for other people to go to college?
Because you were given the opportunity, and you'd have gotten the same tax dollars to pay for yours. Cut off affordable education, I can't see a country lasting too much longer in the modern day. Let's flip this. Why should someone who wants to learn be forced to break the bank to do it?
Bank being the operative word there. Common denominator. Continuous problem.
Why am I being punished for not going to college?!
You're paying taxes like everyone else. Those taxes go to innumerable causes, not all to college kids.
Why am I paying for someone else to have a market advantage over me?
This is why I hate capitalism. Market advantage, commercial success. It's all a bit greedy and envious and polluted. What did you want to be as a kid, before you realized without money society thinks you're inherently worthless? I wanted to be a fireman to help people in trouble. Firemen get paid terrible wages where I live.
It's not like I can go into a job interview and say, "You know how you wanted to hire that college graduate? Guess who payed for his college. I did." Most jobs don't require college education, so obtaining a college education for these jobs is a waste of time, money, and resources. The argument about people needing college to be overall smarter is also a flawed argument because there are more efficient ways to make people expand their mind than making them spend large sums of money to learn things that are supposed to be related to work - but rarely is used for work or anything what-so-ever.
I disagree that education should be about moulding children with predefined knowledge to survive within capatilistic socioeconomic constraints to begin with. Somewhat agree with you here.
The government works against tax payers. Imagine if I wanted to train for a really nice job that you were eyeing. How mad would you be if I stole 20% of your paycheck, obtained a degree with that money, then was hired for a job you applied for because I was more educated than you?
I don't know if I would view the situation that way. I'd probably say ''they went for the better employee'' or ''someone else met their needs''. That doesn't mean I can't disagree with their criteria, their percived needs, or their perspectives, but it's a capitalist system where education in its methods creates more chance of sucess within its constraints.
Or what if you opened a pharmacy and I decided I wanted to open one too. What would you do if 10% of your profits went into my own pharmaceutical business, opened right across the street from you?
I don't think that actually happens, but I can see what your'e saying about taxation being taken then given to others. But really, that's sort of the point of taxation.
You would be pretty mad at me after I put you out of business since I can afford to lower prices more due to competing against you with your own money!
This is how the government works.