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On this day of debt ceilings and federal budgets and taxes in the United States, I think back to a recent conversation with an acquaintance who was ranting about how his tax dollars were being used to fund a playground. He never planned to have children and didn't see the point of paying for something akin to toys for someone else's child. "It's not like it's a school or something useful. This has nothing to do with me."
Actually, it has a lot to do with him. I explained how a playground keeps the high-earning parents of those children in our community, paying local taxes and funding all sorts of things. If the families stay here instead of commuting from some other place with more playgrounds, they also may take in some local entertainment, thereby directly supporting my performer-acquaintance. I also pointed out that he has a vested interest in those children growing up healthy and strong so they will be ready to take care of him in his old age, since he doesn't want children.
Whether it's taxes or doing a favor for someone or making a donation, sometimes it's not about your immediate individual return on investment. Sometimes it's a secondary benefit, and sometimes it just won't benefit you at all. Of course you don't waste your time and money, you just may need to look a bit further to see where it's going. You contribute because it's about keeping the system strong and living an orderly, generous, pleasant life. And who's to say we won't try out that playground some evening after the children get tucked into bed?
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Not to mention that he was the recipient of such funding as well... when people pay taxes into the local school system, it's everybody even people without kids.
ReplyDeleteThe notion of "what's in it for me?" wreaks havoc when we are faced with the common good. We have to see the whole system, and too few people are good at doing that. Good job pointing out the larger picture.
Great insight: "The notion of "what's in it for me?" wreaks havoc when we are faced with the common good." The common good presents all sorts of challenges, even when we consider that we are also recipients of the common good.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment!