You don’t have to benefit, for it to be a benefit
People are wrapped up in this backward idea that if they don’t personally benefit from something, it’s not a real benefit and they support it.
One of many “marriage equality” attacks is, “If everyone can get married, then my marriage isn’t special. Marriage should only benefit me, and me alone. And others like me. But, not exactly like me, because I’m special.”
For me to win, and feel good about my win, and thus myself, you must lose, and lose badly. If ridicule can be added, then the win is all the better.
There are dozens of things we all “support,” but don’t get an immediate benefit from. Still, it’s a benefit.
Simple examples:
I don’t have any school aged children, but I pay school taxes. All my taxes have a line item for it.
Help, help, I’m being repressed.
Why am I “punished” when I get no benefit from these damnable school?!
Obviously I do.
Better schools benefit everyone. Do people argue with better education for every child in their area? People want more garbage, underfunded schools?
Better educated kids means better educated kids. Seems pretty self-explanatory. Is there some argument there?
Ok, let’s add a few things.
Betted educated kids means better opportunities and better job prospects.
Better job prospects at better and more capable companies.
Better companies means better products and more breakthroughs.
Breakthroughs in science, medicine, agriculture, and who knows what else.
I wonder if the people working on the Covid vaccine came from underfunded and neglected schools?
And the ultimate benefit, better products means cooler things for me to buy.
To be completely selfish, better schools means more prestige and higher property values.
Every single one of those is a win, and it makes for a pretty cool circle of life.
What about something that doesn’t less direct, like paying for police and fire?
Since I’m not calling the police every night, what’s the point of me paying into that system?
My house hasn’t been set on fire, so I should pay for the fire department not to come over?
So, following that, here is the better plan.
If I’m in life threaring distress, I should stop what I’m doing and pay them for services before they help?
Further, my house should burn to rubble because I left my wallet inside when I made my mad dash to safety?
Well, yes, right this moment all my worldly possession are on fire and turning to ash. It’s a perfect time to negotiate a fair and reasonable price for you to dash in there and put out the flames. But, no helping out those neighbors and splashing water on their homes in some sort of preventative measure, they haven’t swiped a credit card with you yet. Help me, then you can deal with their troubles.
What kind of thinking is that? Well, one that used to happen actually. If you didn’t have the cash, the fire department would head back to the station.
From this stupid mentality, I shouldn’t support equality because it takes away from me being a special little snowflake.
Is that how pathetic people are? People can’t be treated as equals because a feeling of superiority is jeopardized? That’s right, that’s why they put in white hoods.
“I support equality, as long as I’m more equal than everyone else.”