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Free Things: Because Paying for Basic Necessities is So Last Century

Alberta Freedom Philosophy

"If we're so free, why does everything cost money? Checkmate, capitalists."

Things That Should Be Free (But Aren't Because... Reasons)

Look, we get it Alberta. We love our free market almost as much as we love complaining about carbon taxes. But let's talk about all the things that could actually be free if we weren't so busy protecting corporate profits.

The Obvious Ones

Essential Services That Should Be Free:

  • Energy (Yes, even in oil country - shocking!)
  • Internet & Telecom (Rogers and Telus executives, stop clutching your pearls)
  • Public Transit (Cars aren't freedom, they're expensive metal boxes)
  • Registration Services (Why are we paying to prove we exist?)
  • Recreation (Because the mountains shouldn't have an entrance fee)

The "But How Will We Pay For It?!" Section

Oh, I Don't Know, Maybe...

  • Those oil revenues we keep giving away to corporations
  • The billions in corporate subsidies
  • That Heritage Fund we were supposed to be filling
  • A proper resource royalty system
  • gestures vaguely at the massive wealth inequality

Let's Break It Down

Free Energy

  • Electricity (because the sun doesn't send us bills)
  • Heat (freezing to death isn't very freedom-like)
  • Clean power (sorry coal lovers, but breathing is nice)
  • Energy efficient upgrades (because the best energy is the energy we don't use)

Free Communications

  • Internet access (it's 2024, this shouldn't even be a debate)
  • Mobile service (the Big 3 telcos are just spicy cartels)
  • Public WiFi (everywhere, not just at Tim Hortons)
  • Rural connectivity (because freedom doesn't end at the city limits)

Free Recreation

  • Provincial parks (nature isn't a premium feature)
  • Community centers (sorry, but watching hockey should be free)
  • Public pools (swimming isn't just for the wealthy)
  • Libraries (oh wait, these are already free - see how nice that is?)

Free Public Services

  • Vehicle registration (why pay to prove you own something?)
  • Birth certificates (being born shouldn't cost money)
  • Marriage licenses (love shouldn't come with a processing fee)
  • Business registration (entrepreneurship shouldn't start with a bill)

But What About The Economy?!

Funny how we never ask this when giving billions in subsidies to oil companies. Just saying.

The Real Cost of "Not Free"

When basic services cost money:

  • People make desperate choices
  • Communities suffer
  • Innovation stalls
  • Small businesses struggle
  • Big corporations profit
  • Everyone loses (except the shareholders)

What We're Missing Out On

  • True freedom of movement
  • Universal access to information
  • Community connection
  • Economic mobility
  • Basic human dignity
  • The ability to just exist without paying for it

Reality Check

If we can afford to give billions in corporate tax breaks, we can afford to make basic services free. It's not rocket science (which should also be free, by the way).

Energy

Free Energy - Because freezing in -40° isn't freedom

Environmental Impact - The real cost of "cheap" energy

Communications

Free Communications - Break free from the telco oligarchy

Digital Rights - Because privacy shouldn't be a premium feature

Recreation

Free Recreation - Nature doesn't charge admission

Community Building - Building spaces for everyone

Public Services

Free Public Services - Stop paying to prove you exist

Government Reform - Making public services actually public

The Bottom Line

We're not saying everything should be free (although...). We're just saying that in the richest province in one of the richest countries in the world, maybe - just maybe - we could make life a little less expensive for everyone.

Pro Freedom Tip

Real freedom includes freedom from crushing bills for basic services. Wild concept, we know.

Remember: A society is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable members, not by how many billionaires it creates. And if we're really about freedom, maybe we should start with freeing people from unnecessary costs for essential services.

Think About It

If corporations can get free money from the government, why can't we get free services from our society? It's time to redistribute some freedom, comrades!

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