Thread by @insomnochick

The argument least likely to persuade me a policy is good or bad: "Well the poor won't be able to --- if that's the plan."

Define "won't be able to?" Will they be literally prohibited? Ok yes, that's bad, but 99.9% of the time this statement means "It will be harder."1/

Yeah, I know, that's why being poor sucks. It's also why charity exists, it's also why we get policies based on whether they literally infringe in liberty, not whether they make something more expensive. Look at why they're more expensive first. 2/

If they make things more expensive because govt is intervening in the market and costing you out, by all means rail against govt, intervention, but be consistent. Don't demand interventions for some things, then balk when the same powerful make rules YOU don't like 3/

But people--responsible middle class and working poor people -- make choices every day based on their circumstances. There's a long list of things I can't do or have because my income doesn't support it, many of them arguably "necessary" (various therapies for ailments)4/

I can whine and bitch and make that other peoples' problem, or I can support policies that would free up the market to competition so costs could come down. What I see are people using the "but the poor" to justify policies that make things easier off the top.5/

I don't want cheaper therapy at the providers' expense! What kind of quality will I get then? I don't want people who have more conscripted into providing FOR me either, and I don't want other people compromising their values because I have to have what I want, $ be damned 6/

The level of narcissism and entitlement in this country is off the charts. People call ME selfish, but what's more irrationally selfish and bratty than complaining about a policy solely because something will be expensive for poor people. 7/

Try first principles! You can't eradicate poverty, but you sure can eradicate liberty! And liberty can't be had for person A at the expense of person B. That's not liberty, and yes, values and norms count as an "expense" some aren't willing to pay, deal with it 8/

This is why we have federalism. Imagine if we were one giant state, where the majority always ruled. You think the working poor have it bad now? Try making it impossible to move around and get a better deal, better job, better life! Why do you think immigrants come HERE?9/

So if you're going to try to persuade me a policy is bad, don't use this argument unless you can explain why the working poor are uniquely entitled to have the thing, or the opportunity, without challenge, relative to those with more money./END