An Example Of What Will Happen When You Want Things For Free

If capitalism has its way, air won't be free anymore because Water already isn't.

How could I not agree+

It really does.

That's a very sad song.

If you can't afford something if the entire US population is contributing, then there's no way you can afford it on your own.

Let's consider your health insurance. You pay a certain amount each month, along with a group of people, into a big pot that is all lumped together. And when you, or any other 1 person, needs help paying medical expenses, that big pot will pay out for you.

Because in a large group, only a few people will need help at any specific time. And because the pot needed to pay out isn't as large, the members of the larger group will pay less on a per individual basis.

that's the underlying premise of insurance.

And we already know that if the entire US population were paying into medical care, it would be cheaper per person in our taxes than it is right now per person paying into private insurance companies.

The same goes for roads, libraries, schools, sewer systems, water systems, garbage disposal, etc.

I’m talking about things like food, or parts to repair machinery

Okay, food. Let's look at a brand called Blue Belle Ice cream here in Texas. They make a premium ice cream.

They also had a lysteria infection at both of their production plants. An infection they knew about, yet continued to ship their infected ice cream for years. A lot of people got sick. An unknown number of them died (pregnant women, kids & seniors are especially susceptible to listeria). The executives knew they had a problem. They worked to conceal it from discovery outside of the company. They did so because shutting down the factories to clean them would be very expensive.

After several years of investigation the CDC tracked down the source- blue belle- and shut them down. The company immediately declared bankruptcy and shut down. (they have since been reopened after the IP was bought by another company).

Now let's say you have kids. And those kids have a birthday party. And you got them some Blue Belle. and they get sick.

How would you "be better off on your own" in this situation? How would you deal with a company that is knowingly shipping tainted products and working to cover it up? How would you even know it was the ice cream? And if you did know it was the ice cream, how would you take on a large corporation's lawyers?

Do you have the infinite pool of money to sue them in civil court?

This idea of "i'd be better off on my own" is EXACTLY the kind of attitude corporations want you to have. Because they know they can ignore you, and if they can't ignore you, they'll isolate you and shut you up with money.

Exactly, and the more money they need, the less control over your money you have.

Is this a trick question?

Consider the source

You're absolutely right.

I can't say I know or have ever met anyone like that so if they live outside of your head, I haven't seen em. Idk. Maybe it's "just a meme" / not really based on anything.