[cyberax]

> Do your taxes go towards the fire department even if you never have a fire?

Fire departments provide protection from fire. I absolutely do use and depend on it.

> Do your taxes go towards the public parks even if you don’t use them?

This is indeed a subsidy. A pay-per-use system would allow to remove the subsidy. However, it's so small around here that it's inconsequential in the face of massive transit subsidies.

> Do your taxes go towards public schools even if you don’t have kids?

Nope. I will eventually have kids who will need schools. So not a subsidy.

[nimbleplum40]

You said you’re in Seattle? If so, you have quite the parks department… It’s certainly not inconsequential. https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/FinanceDepartm...

Also, if your public schools receive funding from people who do not currently have kids in school (no kids, kids already graduated, kids in private school, etc.) it’s subsidized. To claim otherwise is to redefine words.