America Is Forgetting Why We Share Things

On many days, I’ve gotten up in the morning, taken a shower with clean city water, and walked outside on a well-kept sidewalk. Breathing clean fresh air, I would stroll through a nice park, board a convenient train and head to work. It’s a great way to start the day. And the amazing thing is, except for a couple of dollars to buy a train ticket, I didn’t pay for any of it.

Or at least, not directly. I pay taxes, directly and indirectly. But the services I consumed were not priced. They were provided by the government. My ability to enjoy sunshine and air unclouded by coal smoke, to enjoy the park, and to ride the train are the same whether I’m a billionaire or a pauper. In the lingo of economists, these things are public goods and public services.