The folks like him who complain about taxes don't think they use any of the commons paid for by taxes?

They may not have children, but better schools increase their property value.

I really don't understand this, other than cruel selfishness.

- who also lived her life espousing economic and social individualism and independence only to wind up at the end of her life dependent on governmental support for her well being and WELFARE!

Where's karma when you need it?

... a mercifully short book entitled, The Virtue Of Selfishness. I shit you not. The woman also hated altruism in any and all forms; she never shut up about it. Yet she died collecting Social Security, which her devotees today want to take away from those of us who have paid into it, for more than 60 years, in my case.
Ayn Rand was rotten to the very core of her being. In the late sixties, I was strongly encouraged to read her essays and 3rd-rate doorstop novels by my employers, who were fervent "Objectivists".
Reminds me of a joke: A little boy says to his mother, "When I grow up, I'm gonna be a Libertarian!" His mother replied, "Well, which is it going to be? You can't do both!"

He has alienated himself from most people because to be honest he is exhausting. When this happened, after about a week his childhood friend came to see him. He was supposed to be here ten days. He was gone in two. Even though he was here to help all he got was yelled at and blamed for telling the hospital where he lived. It wasn't him. It was the guy who found him sitting in the dark.

My wife and her sister give him more compassion than most ever would, but he does not make it easy. Me? I'll help when I can but I struggle with people who are never wrong, and never make mistakes.

Thanks for asking though, blue

Last edited Thu Jul 16, 2026, 04:48 PM - Edit history (1)

But if I am honest, I contribute my taxes accepting that we will collectively, as a society, end up taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves, regardless. Some folks think it’s a principled stand- like your friend, some just take advantage. But I think those really are corner cases.

Not being self righteous at all. I wish this guy had got with the program, but we take the good with the bad. Maybe this will open his eyes and he can evangelize.

I have a quasi-friend that makes a better than decent living, and he is always complaining about how his taxes have to go to aid for his sister, her “shiftless” boyfriend and her kids. As if this is some sort of cautionary tale that proves a “taxes are too high” point

And every time, I tell him that those kids need help, it’s not their fault. It’s not better for anyone for kids to not get food, care, have a place to live, not go to school, so stop bitching.

So that we establish societal empathy because the majority of us realize that someday we to will be old and need that support.

records in the big veteran records fire and denied him them). He couldn't afford good ones and even the overpriced ones he bought were not great. In any case, we teenaged kids would say something at the table and when he missed it, he'd ask us to repeat. Sometimes, we would repeat but other times would say "Never mind, dad" and he was left out of the conversation.

I now have hearing loss and get mine from the VA. But I'll never forget what I did to him. Yes, so did my siblings but that's no excuse. When I have problems hearing other people and ask them to repeat, I often get teary eyed being reminded how, when young, forgot that we are all headed there and would someday be dependent on others and on government aid.

My shame will go with me to the grave. I still think "Dad, I'm sorry" 40+ years after his death.

Makes my wonder if Graham, if he felt death coming, said to himself "My God, what have I done?"