I always get a kick out of people who say that camping in state or national forests are free, or visiting the public library is free. Free camping or hiking or reading is a joke. Indeed, it’s not free at all. Somebody pays for it, most likely you and I do.

Most of us pay a weekly or bi-weekly “subscription” fee to use those services, in the form of payroll and other taxes.It’s very hard to measure whether or not one is using their fair share of services. Many government services benefit not one individual, but society as a whole. Many promote economic growth, which also benefits us all. Others promote society’s well being, even if we do not personally take advantage of the services.

… there is No Such Thing As Free to Use Government Services.