There has been some construction on  the road of a bridge near me at night for the past few nights.  They shut down a lane and alter traffic.  I was curious what they were doing so I asked them on my walk tonight.  

They are grinding up the surface of the road and putting down a silt-like, rocky covering on the road.  The purpose?  To prevent freezing and to prepare for snow.

In San Diego.

The guys nervously laughed and said, “Gotta spend that money somehow.”  I figured it is a program meant to give people jobs, but man is it depressing for two reasons:
1. My tax dollars are being wasted
2. The people working these jobs know that they’re doing soulless, meaningless, wasteful work.  I could see it in both their eyes. 

 Everyone should keep 100% of what they earn and spend it how they please. There were roads and bridges and infrastructure before mass taxation. People spending their money as needed would fix all of these issues. 

I see small towns with multi million dollar fire stations, half a dozen million dollar trucks and multiple ambulances, and I think, would the community fund all of that voluntarily? It is ever all necessary? I really think it’s not in 99.99% of jurisdictions. 

 I agree.  This experience was a shocking reminder that taxation is theft and the state is incredibly wasteful. 

 I like that you asked them about it. The elephant in the room. 

In fiat “jobs” are velocity of money is important. Under a sound money standard efficiency and capital accumulation is important. Such different outcomes long term.