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Taxes pay for stuff. Think of taxes like a subscription. You pay more, but you get more in your subscription to Massachusetts™ than, say, you get in a New Hampshire™ subscription. It’s like comparing Netflix with Peacock. You pay less for Peacock but… you get a lot less in that subscription.

I got a mailer from Ohio the other day trying to entice small business owners to relocate there. The mailer was all about low taxes, and I was like, ok cool, you have a cheaper subscription, but you get almost none of what comes with a Massachusetts™ subscription like social services, bodily autonomy, fewer mass shootings, etc. I’m good with paying the higher fee for the Massachusetts™ subscription because I like the benefits I get with it.

And sure, taxes also pay for a lot of stuff I don’t use, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t useful to someone. I’ve never watched the British baking show or whatever on Netflix but it’s still included with my subscription and I don’t begrudge anyone who wants that show in the subscription. I pay for stuff in my Massachusetts™ subscription I don’t use, but I’m not complaining about it.


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