Free Public Services: Because Paying to Prove You Exist is Peak Capitalism
Alberta Freedom Philosophy
"Nothing says 'freedom' like paying $80 to renew your license to drive on roads you already paid for with your taxes."
Call Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Email Minister of Service Alberta
Call Danielle Smith, Premier Email the Premier
The Current Situation
In our perfectly rational system, we pay for: - Birth certificates (congratulations, that'll be $40) - Marriage licenses (love isn't free, apparently) - Death certificates (final micro-transaction) - Vehicle registration (annual subscription to driving) - Business registration (pay-to-play entrepreneurship) - Property tax assessment (paying to know how much more to pay)
Why Public Services Should Be Free
Because...
- We already fund these services with our taxes
- They're literally called "public" services
- Administrative fees disproportionately affect the poor
- Bureaucracy shouldn't be a profit center
- Existing is not a premium feature
What Free Public Services Looks Like
Identity Documents
- Birth certificates
- Death certificates
- Marriage licenses
- Name changes
- Gender marker updates
- Citizenship documents
Vehicle Services
- Driver's licenses
- Vehicle registration
- License plates
- Insurance verification
- Vehicle inspection
- Parking permits
Business Services
- Business registration
- Trade licenses
- Permits
- Certifications
- Professional licensing
- Safety codes
The "But Government Needs Revenue!" Myth
Reality Check
- These fees are a tiny fraction of government revenue
- Processing costs are minimal
- Most services are already digitized
- We're double-charging for tax-funded services
- The poor pay more proportionally
How We Get There
- Eliminate administrative fees
- Streamline digital services
- Remove artificial barriers
- Increase accessibility
- Stop treating public services like profit centers
Bureaucrat's Lament
"But how will we justify our existence without making people fill out forms in triplicate?"
The Real Cost of Paid Public Services
- Delayed access to essential documents
- Barriers to starting businesses
- Unnecessary financial stress
- Reduced civic participation
- Administrative poverty traps
What We're Missing
- Universal access to services
- Efficient government operations
- Reduced bureaucratic overhead
- Equal access regardless of income
- Actually public public services
Hidden Costs We Already Pay
- Time spent in government offices
- Lost work hours
- Travel to service centers
- Multiple trips for missing documents
- Processing delays
- Mental health toll of bureaucracy
Deep Dive Resources
The Bottom Line
If corporations can register offshore accounts for free, you should be able to register your car without taking out a loan.
Think About It
In a truly free society, proving your existence shouldn't come with a price tag.
