RE: Some Thoughts

["Dale Courtney" <dmcourtn@moscow.com>]

Tom Hansen wrote:
> I have been raised to believe that a family, a community, a 
> group of people (no matter what label you put on them) take 
> care of each other.  My father (who is a Shriner) lived by 
> that concept.  He is an 85-year old Iowa farm boy, WWII 
> combat veteran, that instilled in his family that everybody 
> has worth.  I grew up in Los Angeles and spent more 
> Christmases than I can count decorating trees, donating time, 
> money and effort to families less fortunate than mine.  I 
> don't mind contributing my money, time and effort toward a 
> greater good.  

Tom, you are comparing apples and oranges. 

When the government puts a gun to our heads and takes our money by force
and threat, you cannot use the words "donating" and "contributing".
Anything taken by force is no longer a donation or a contribution.

This reality struck me when I thought about owning my own home
free-and-clear some day. Even if I were to "own" it outright, I wouldn't
*really* own it. If I didn't pay my property taxes, it would be taken
from me and sold. At that point, I'm actually renting my home from the
government.

I agree with your estimation that a community should help one another. I
just disagree with a statist method for achieving that.

Dale Courtney
Moscow, Idaho
Free to be me, free to be you (as long as you agree with me...)