There is No Such Thing as a Free Ride

So many things have me riled right now, but I’ll avoid the temptation to write about all of them and stick to one subject.  The Nanny State.

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There is no such thing as a free ride.  I was reminded of that when our Governor Rod Blagojevich (Blago or G Rod) amended a bill passed by the legislature to include free rides on the RTA (Regional Transportation Authority)  for seniors.  There’s a problem with that.  The legislature has haggled for months (not just between parties, but intra party) to come up with a plan to bail out the flagging finances of the RTA.  Their solution was a sales tax increase (surprise, surprise).  Rather than just sign the bill the Blago decided to add a caveat.  He’d ok the tax increase if seniors could ride for free.

Now, the governor’s no dummy.  He knows that nothing gets him votes like giving something to some special interest group for free.   Ah, free, but wait, free from the government, is that really free?   Let’s go through the mantra.

It’s being paid for by the government.  It’s free.   Where does government get it money from?  Answer:  Taxes.  Where do taxes come from?  Dead silence.  Even if we don’t pay for something; someone else does through taxes. 

Yep.  That’s right taxes come from us, but wait taxes only come from the rich.  Define rich.  Did you know if you own property you’re considered rich?  So if you bought a house, sacrificed for years living frugally to pay for it (which my husband and I did), you’re rich, because you own property.    Someone always pays and it’s not necessarily Bill Gates or Warren Buffet.

I say that with the picture of the happy seniors cheerfully extolling the virtues of free RTA rides.  I’m embarrassed to say I’m from that generation and I’d benefit from the free transit, but I’d also pay for it.  Even if I only spend $1,000 a month locally, it would get taxed and those extra taxes would go toward keeping the RTA afloat (and not raising the fares too much for regular commuters.) and the extra taxes would also go toward free fares for seniors, but through the back door I’d be paying for my own “free” transit.  What’s wrong with this picture.

I also get social security and am (unfortunately) on Medicare.  I get money every month, “free” medical care and tons of other free things or lower cost things designed to keep older folks in line.   But my free is coming on the backs of those people who are currently working, increasing their taxes and making it harder for them to make ends meet.  That means that my daughter needs money for medical expenses, car repair bills and a host of other unexpected expenses.   If she cleared closer to what she actually earns, she wouldn’t need my assistance.

In short, anything from government comes at a price.  How come I can see that and so many other people can’t?

I saw an analogy once.  If you put a frog in tepid water and gradually turn up the heat, the frog won’t jump out even when the water gets hot enough to cook it.  Eventually it dies.

Is the water hot enough for you yet?* 

* I saw this the other day on someone else’s email and realized that I’m not the only one who likes the analogy.  I decided to use it now before it loses its luster.