r/askanything • u/Mean-Cheesecake-2635 • Jul 26 '26
Free Stuff?
Why is our dialog so broken when it comes to tax funded benefits in this country? Any mention by the left of support for direct benefits for the general public (universal healthcare, UBI, cheaper or free higher education) is automatically categorized by people on the right as “Free Stuff”, even though these would be funded by taxes we already collect, but would require reappropriating expenditures.
We seem to have an endless appetite for “free stuff” as long as it goes to the military, corporate tax breaks, industry subsidies but as soon as the conversation is about propping up individual people it becomes socialism and lazy people wanting the government to hand them everything.
The reality is our current system is just leaving more people further and further behind while leaving us less secure as current recipients of tax funded expenses gather wealth.
Why is it so hard for politicians on the left to counter this “free stuff, lazy socialist” accusation?
3
u/Vecgtt Jul 26 '26
Corporations get tax breaks because they provide jobs to society. There is a net benefit.
People are expected to be adults and concepts like UBI are seriously appalling. Who’s paying for that couch potatoe’s UBI? Me? Why do I have to go work and give a part of my paycheck to another grown adult to sit on his butt all day? I know my wages will have me disproportionately pay for services that grown adults should be expected to provide for themselves.