My Own Little Rebellion

It was a sunny day, hot for my part of the People's Republic of California. I was walking along, minding my own business, when Satan herself appeared in a little 3-wheeled cart. Well, alright, not quite Satan. She was the meter maid. She stopped right next to me, in front of a car with an expired meter. The owners came out to argue, and alas, there was nothing I could do. Then, I came upon, not 15 yards from the first, another with an expired meter, sure to be the meter maid's next victim.

I had a choice to make. She had seen me, she knew I was there. I would have to be quick, timely. I faked walking away. She looked away, chatting on her walkie talkie. I drew the weapons of revolt: a serrated dime and a heavy, blunt nickel, all the change I had. I dropped them into the meter, giving whoever it was 9 minutes of reprive. Retreating to a distance, it became evident that this meter maid had been aware of this expired meter, her unholy eyes keen to any trace of red along her path. She went to it, looked confused, checked the time remaining... and drove away. A victory for righteousness!

Know that I did this not for the car's owner. No, they were merely people who did not mind the time; fools, I daresay. No, I did it not for them, but to deny our own little Leviathan its $35, and to rebel, to defy the law that says I cannot use my money in this way. They got my 15 cents, but lost my obedience, a far more valuable asset to them than their pretend money. I know, as should you, that they do not care for the money in the meters. A ticket is far more lucrative for the city than are the coins. It may seem petty, but if enough of us do these little things, these little rebellions, than weakened indeed will be the edifice of power. Death by a thousand cuts is still death, is it not?

nice job

*pats on back*

lol, awesome.

I believe in some jurisdictions, this may be illegal.  I'm quite sure it is illegal to "top up" someone else's meter with change in Canada.

liberty student:

I believe in some jurisdictions, this may be illegal.  I'm quite sure it is illegal to "top up" someone else's meter with change in Canada.

Many parts of the US as well. And for a good reason: topping up meters can cost the municipality SERIOUS money. I highly recommend it as a safe alternative to shooting the b*stards.

--Len

liberty student:

I believe in some jurisdictions, this may be illegal.  I'm quite sure it is illegal to "top up" someone else's meter with change in Canada.

Quite precisely the point, my friend. Many days, in my little corner of the world, I go looking for expired meters, just to stick my thumb in "the man"'s eye. Petty, I know, but what can we do? These little things can add up, and in any case remind the worthless bureaucrats that not everyone kowtows to their ridiculous, avaricious, busybody little whims.

Unfortunately, a side-effect of this activity might be higher taxes.

Ego:

Unfortunately, a side-effect of this activity might be higher taxes.

In similar news. some jurisdictions are taking down red-light cameras. It seems people are obeying the traffic signals, and revenue for traffic violations is falling. I'm all for it. Yes, they'll try to make up the revenue some other way--but each time they go back to the drawing board is a teachable moment.

Defund the state! Obey posted speed limits!

--Len

Ego:

Unfortunately, a side-effect of this activity might be higher taxes.

Taxes are remarkably unpopular things, and most politicians are too cowardly to propose them, especially when they have a chance of succeeding. Tax too much, and people start to leave. Around here, rents are so high, businesses fail all the time as it is. Start piling greater taxation on there, and you start to have real problems.

However they deal with it, the bankrupcy and ruin of governments is brought another step closer. In CA, I can look at a place like, say, Oakland, which can no longer afford to even keep up a full police force. Cases are going unsolved because they don't even have someone who can read fingerprints. It is a big rent-controlled embassy of the third world over there. Uneducated, poor people mostly live there. If such failures came to places where people had money and expectations, the story would change rather quickly.

JCFolsom:

Ego:

Unfortunately, a side-effect of this activity might be higher taxes.

 

Taxes are remarkably unpopular things, and most politicians are too cowardly to propose them, especially when they have a chance of succeeding. Tax too much, and people start to leave. Around here, rents are so high, businesses fail all the time as it is. Start piling greater taxation on there, and you start to have real problems.

Add in the fact that California voters passed an initiative a while back that says they can't impose any new taxes without voter approval. Doesn't really stop them but slows them down a bit...they just have to be a little more creative like a proposal for an increase in electricity bills (since they are a regulated industry) to fund alternative energy research. The public/private taxation model.

JCFolsom:

I can look at a place like, say, Oakland, which can no longer afford to even keep up a full police force.

I was driving through there about a month ago and saw a billboard advertising a $69,000 salary for starting police officers. Little wonder they can't afford to fully staff their force.

I wonder now if they can't afford it or if they pay such an excessive salary because nobody wants the job and that's why they don't have a full force.

Luckly I escaped from there and now live in a somewhat freer Arizona.