What's a loving response to a libertarian friend who keeps posting Taxation is Theft on Facebook?

[Bucky]

I was thinking about something like "sewage treatment is welfare" or "Haiti is Paradise" but then I'm kinda snarky that way. What's a better rather than bitter response you could suggest?

[al_liberal]

1. Taxes paid for the internet they're using to post that crap. n/t

[think]

4. +1

[Xithras]

36. Lol, I posted that response, almost word for word, when my BiL posted this nonsense.

He unfriended me. I considered that a moral win.

[hobbit709]

2. Tell him to stay off the streets, don't call police or fire, keep your kids out of school, etc.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Ask how he feels about hiring his own police force and firefighters?

Or you could recommend Somalia as the perfect place to live because it has virtually no functioning government but plenty of guns?

[Kip Humphrey]

5. garbage collection is grand theft (won't work if private collection though, e.g., California)

[Bucky]

60. I assume that private collection of garbage in Cali is still a gov't awarded contract

There's still a public agency ensuring the garbage gets collected. Do trash collectors gather fees from the homeowners they service or is it still tax supported activity?

[Kip Humphrey]

65. in many rural areas, trash collection is private paid by homeowners & businesses directly to trash

collection companies. The dumps are (mostly) government owned.

[KittyWampus]

6. a photo of his house with flames superimposed on it and him standing w/a garden hose?

[csziggy]

21. If he is on a city water system that garden hose should be dry! n/t

[white_wolf]

24. Nope. That hose is filled with water treated and delivered by public money.

If his house catches fire then he can grab a bucket and head down to the nearest body of water.

[KittyWampus]

29. okay, scratch the garden hose… just his house being consumed by flames.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. "Block posts from this friend?" Click yes.

[greymouse]

8. ignore the posts if you want to keep him as a friend

I usually ignore posts from a sib, such is life.

[Jim Beard]

57. I keep politics out of my Facebook conversation.

None on my page, just all family and grandchildren and if any of those start posting that republican crap, I quit "following" them.

[arcane1]

9. "Fine, fix your own potholes"

How does this friend feel about the police, or the military?

[Bucky]

61. He's a soldier in Afghanistan actually

so I can see why he's a little bitter about the federal government

[GoCubsGo]

70. So, I take it that he doesn't realize that his paycheck is financed by tax dollars?

That makes him the recipient of stolen goods. Or, does he think the military pulls that money out of thin air?

[PatrickforO]

10. If you drove to work on decent, recently repaired roads, that's your tax dollars. If you turned on

the faucet and water came out that you could actually drink, that's your tax dollars. If you didn't get broadsided when the light turned green and traffic stopped so that you could go, that's your tax dollars (paid for BOTH signal AND police protection). If there was a fire in your neighborhood and firefighters came with the best equipment to put it out, that's your tax dollars. If you opened and ate a can of peaches and didn't die of botulism, the canning regulations are your tax dollars. If you lost your job and collected unemployment, visited a workforce center, that's your tax dollars.

We could go on, but people don't realize how important government services are in their lives at the local, state and federal levels. Look at what's happening in Flint due primarily to Republican/libertarian policies?

[mcranor]

11. Ask: Who taught him/her how to read and write?

....or, Where does the poop go when you flush the toilet?

[hay rick]

51. The poop obviously goes straight to his Facebook page. nt

[Drahthaardogs]

12. HOw about "Clean water is not free"

Neither is firefighting, roads, food inspection, and your freedoms, but thanks for playing!

[raccoon]

63. This post could make some great bumper stickers. nt

[Bucky]

69. good ones

My friend is in the army in Afghanistan right now. He's in a tough situation, so I gotta avoid things that seem like taunts. I'm looking for clever rejoinders that say "have you thought about this?". You've given me a few good ideas to think on.

[jpak]

13. I just privatized your road - pay the toll and fix your own pot holes

yup

[metalbot]

14. You might point out that libertarian paradises do exist

Places where there's almost no taxation, except on imports/exports, the government stays out of the way of businesses, and you'll bleed to death on the street if you don't have money. Oddly enough, I haven't actually found a libertarian who wants to move to any of those countries.

[saturnsring]

15. next time he has to take a dump tell him to go in a bucket then try to figure out what to do

with it

[kcr]

16. I think it's an impossible situation.

You almost never change minds when they're that far gone. Some friendships are the kind where you can snark like that, but if it's not? Not much you can do. I think there's a FB setting where you can hide the posts and it's not like blocking so they don't know you're doing it.

[JanMichael]

17. how about go jump off a cliff? love is plunging to ones death...

...without having to say you are sorry you pushed....

[jberryhill]

22. A privately-owned cliff

[bluedigger]

18. "I'd send you a cop, but he's taxpayer funded."

[Scootaloo]

19. Endless cute cat pictures.

You can't argue with a libertarian. Their beliefs are like the crusty stuff on the side of an old skillet. No matter how hard you work it, it's going to stay there, and you're just going to get tired.

I suggest flooding their posts with endless streams of adorable kitten gifs. It's the only way to be sure. Aside form nuking it from orbit.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

20. Someone who uses the public internet from her home situated next to a public road while

drinking water made safe by her government, breathing air that is clean because of her government, enjoying the freedom to say such stupid fucking nonsense because of our defense department, is too stupid to talk to when she says idiotic garbled garbage like that.

[Kittycat]

23. I actually think snarky is the only way to deal with this

Sometimes you just need to rip the band aid off, instead of being gentle about it.

Kind of like my neighbor who teased another neighbor openly on Facebook, for putting a trump sign in his yard.

"Is that a Klan hat on the right bottom corner?"

Stick the knife in and twist. Get it over with.

[laundry_queen]

62. Yep, this is the way to go

I use it on all my right wing relatives. Works great. None of them will discuss politics with me anymore. Some have converted. lol. But they still won't talk about it. I hear about it third hand.

Of course, you do have to follow up the snark with facts at strategic moments. Make it constant. Nag and nitpick everlast, and never let them know they are getting under your skin. Act like you get a kick out of everything they say that is crazy. If they get offended, the best recourse is to say, "aw, i was only teasing! Surely you haven't gotten all sensitive suddenly?"

[HuckleB]

25. "I love you, but derp!"

[WillowTree]

26. Why respond at all?

Do you think there's more of a chance that you will change his mind than there is that he will change yours?

[MountCleaners]

32. Not everyone is a fanatic

I have family members who change their minds all of the time.

My Trump friend even told me she's not always sure of her views. I can't imagine saying that, but I've always read loads of political books and media and have worked on campaigns. Lots of people don't have that commitment.

[gratuitous]

27. Depends on the situation

If this friend is a "patriot" type, then "Freedom isn't free, and taxes are what we pay for freedom." If he's a green visor type who knows the cost of everything but the value of nothing, then point out what a bargain he's getting for his relative pittance in taxes: Clean water, safe food, decent roads, breathable air, restaurants where they don't serve tainted food, and so forth. If he's a "government should be run like a business" knucklehead, point out that his favorite businesses don't give away their product, and neither does (or should) government. Then refer back to the long list of amenities (water, food, police, fire fighters, etc.) that make his life so comfortable provided by none other than that same government.

[MountCleaners]

33. Welfare

The anti-tax people always say they don't want to pay for "freeloaders". I find they have no idea how little of their tax money goes to welfare.

Remember, they don't read progressive media and haven't encountered these arguments.

[JohnnyRingo]

28. "The govt does more for me than it does to me"

Sure, if he's in an upper tax bracket he may feel short changed on services rendered vs money contributed.

After all, he doesn't need public parks what with the country club and all, and his community is gated from common criminals so he doesn't rely on police patrols. Public libraries are something he wouldn't require and he probably wouldn't need Social Security in retirement, but if he's spending a couple thousand or less a year in taxes like the rest of us, he's probably getting much more than he pays for.

[MountCleaners]

30. Join a liberal or progressive FB group

And post your own arguments to it. Your FB friend might see that you have a different viewpoint and might stop assuming that you want to see their politics.

My best friend from childhood is supporting Donald Trump and every day I get nasty Trump stuff + Ann Coulter.

I can't un-friend her since she's been a good friend and we are in each other's childhood photos, it would be like erasing a part of my life.

Instead, I'll post anti-Trump stuff to a group or post info to another friend's wall knowing my Trump friend will see I think Trump is a fascist. She's been a bit quieter since I posted a list of white supremacist groups supporting Trump - I think she didn't know this!

Not everyone closely follows the news and social media as DU-ers do. I've found that some people on FB have not been exposed much to "progressive" views.

[phylny]

40. Good points all.

I'll suggest one more thing, which is that you can hide people's posts but remain friends. I have to do this with my daughter's mother-in-law and a few other people. In addition, when you post, you can post something "custom" and choose who will not see your post.

I do that for her mother-in-law, too

[ibegurpard]

31. defriend

Too many "Democrats" are spouting the same bullshit though...

[Warpy]

34. Nothing will budge a selfish, libertarian dreamer until a brick wall built by unfettered capitalism

falls on him and flattens the point on his head. Bless his heart.

However, you can send him this:

[WinkyDink]

35. A Libertarian? Just say, "Oh, well; might makes right!"

[safeinOhio]

37. Are you going to turn in that

Socialist Security card you carry?

Even Ayn Rand held on to hers and used it at the end.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

38. Loving? Ignore it.

Failing that, a polite "I disagree" is unlikely to cause too much offense, and at least registers your dissent, if you feel the need to.

[phylny]

39. Ask him why he wants free stuff?

Free libraries, free snow removal, free trash removal, free roads, free courts, free national defense.

[greymattermom]

41. not paying taxes

is getting free stuff from the government

[mnhtnbb]

42. You could argue the theory of the social contract with your friend ad infinitum.

Or you could challenge your friend to consider the options to participating in our culture and society.

If taxes are such anathema to your friend, then maybe your friend needs to relocate somewhere else.
There is very little--if any--chance that taxes are going to be reduced in this country. Ever.

As an example, in NC the Republicans took control of state government here in 2012 for the first time
in over 100 years. The result? Income taxes for the middle class have gone up. Safety net
for the unemployed and poor has been curtailed. Now, sales taxes have gone up on all kinds of things.
Result? Poor and middle class are paying MORE of their income in taxes so the 1% can have
tax reductions.

Or maybe you should just tell your friend to just shut up--stop whining--or join the Democrats to vote
for politicians who might address the income inequality in this country.

Taxation is the price you pay for living in society.

[Warren DeMontague]

43. "WHATS THE PLAN NOW, GENIUS?!?!"

[MountCleaners]

44. Conservative family

My brother married a woman who comes from an extremely conservative and religious family.

They come to family get-togethers and assume we're just as religious (we're NOT), and the dad can't imagine how anyone can vote Democrat.

My late father was a Democrat, my mom's family were all proud steelworkers and Democrats. However, we believed it was RUDE to talk politics at family get-togethers.

I consider it an insult to my late father to carry on about abortion or Obama (my dad voted for him). Also my dad was an atheist and never went to church.

Since we're all on Facebook I post lots of pictures of my Dad and how I miss him, pictures of my steelworker relatives (most steelworkers vote Democrat). I'm hoping to guilt trip them into laying off the religion and politics, esp. quit praying for the unborn in front of us as most of my family is NOT against abortion! Yes, there are many pro-choice Catholics!

It just seems like until their daughter married my brother, their whole social circle was their conservative church. They were shocked and embarrassed when my brother protested against anti-gay discrimination at his church.

I think we need to use Facebook to expose these people to a variety of attitudes they just haven't been exposed to pre-Internet.

[Bucky]

68. You have my sympathies

That sounds like a very troubling and patience-taxing family situation. It's really terrible when someone combines deep cultural differences with cultural intolerance of others, and then expects everyone to respect or conform to their worldview. It sounds like you want to get along with them, but they keep testing your limits with some decidedly un-loving beliefs.

Hang in there and keep those loving vibes flowing (but don't be a doormat). You never know how much you reach people or help them see the light when you demonstrate tolerance and good neighborliness in how you live.

[TBF]

45. I hope he's not drinking the water. nt

[Volaris]

46. It's also legal, AND

It pays for the bailouts of 'Supermen' who are actually too chickenshit to live by their own Randian-Libertarian philosophy.

Welcome to Rapture, City Beneath the Sea.

[So Far From Heaven]

47. Don't do what I did.

He kept on with his libertarian bullshit and I tried everything I could think of.

Then I got tired of trying and wrote the following to his Facebook page; 'Quit acting like the anti-Christ and pay your fucking taxes.'

Seems I've been unfriended.

I'm too old to give a shit.

[bhikkhu]

48. Freedom isn't Free

...is my standard response.

[Rex]

49. Do they drive to the grocery store and buy food?

How simple do you want to start at?

[LannyDeVaney]

50. Learn to unfollow ...

Similar to the ignore function on this site, which ROCKS.

[HERVEPA]

52. Tell him to go fuck himself. Libertarians suck.

[seanjoycek476]

53. Tell him he's free to move to Somalia

I hear it's a tax-free paradise. With lots of guns.

[glowing]

54. Billionaire envy; wishing the jackpot would land on him

So he could buy a congressman too?

[Aristus]

55. "Stop driving on my fucking roads, asshole!"

Then tell him to get stuffed...

[tblue37]

56. Tell him taxes are the dues we pay to live in a civilized society, and that the decline in our

quality of life here closely tracks our unwillingness to make sure the wealthy and powerful pay their fair share for the social benefits they enjoy but have the power to hog to themselves because they get to purchase our politicians, who cut funding for social services while shoveling corporate welfare to their rich donors.

[man4allcats]

58. How about

"Blow it out your ass, you dumb bastard."

[Ghost Dog]

59. "Property is Theft"?

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

64. Paying your taxes is paying the bills.

Do these same folks think it is theft that they have to pay for electricity? Sure you can opt to not pay for it, but then you don't have electricity. You could also opt to not pay taxes by not working and not participating in our society. Go off and be a hermit in the wilderness if that's what you want. If you want the benefits of modern conveniences and public services, then pay your bills otherwise known as taxes.

[CTyankee]

66. Get a pthy remark from Karl Marx (who could be funny at times).

Oh, and tell him you hope he doesn't take that socialist Medicare or Social
Security...

[ConservativeDemocrat]

67. Just tell him that he doesn't own the country

He was born on land owned by a corporation called "The United States of America". And like with all corporations, this one demands payment for services rendered, like his physical safety for one.

As in all voluntary transactions however, he is also free to leave if he doesn't like the deal.

That's what I do when I talk to Libertarians.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community