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Free Stuff How often do we complain about others getting "free stuff"? I found this article this morning that reminded me that we all take advantage of "free stuff" in some way or another. Of course these things are not really free since they are paid for with tax dollars but the article certainly made me step back and take a look at how we define "free stuff". It appears that the term "free" is subjective. Like everything these days we currently have the tendency to focus on what is wrong and seek destruction rather than what is right and building on that. I just got home from taking my to the local park... the "socialist" park, that is, because its an example of "free stuff" Americans receive as part of living in such a great country. The park is part of 33.2 acres of beautiful bayfront property set aside for public use by the City of St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department. Its "socialist agenda" is, "To preserve, protect, maintain and enhance the city's parklands and recreational facilities, and engage people [and their animal companions] in leisure activities that contribute to their quality of life." Adjacent to the public park is a well-maintained playground; picnic areas; a bike path; a public beach; restrooms with outdoor showers; an aquatic complex with 50 and 25 meter swimming pools, a giant flume slide, and locker rooms with hot water showers; and an outdoor sports complex with a lighted softball field, and four tennis courts. The city has this park thanks to William L. Straub, a Democrat from the Dakota Territory who arrived in St. Petersburg in 1900 and purchased the _St. Petersburg Times_. He used his paper's editorial page to lead the successful campaign to claim St. Petersburg's waterfront for public ownership. Democratic socialism at its best. Apart from the aquatic and sports complexes that charge nominal hourly or daily fees, the rest of park's facilities are "free stuff". If you enjoy things like city parks, YOU are a democratic socialist! Spiritwoman ^i^ |
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3/13/2016 11:55 am |
JUSTA QUESTION...NO MORE--NO LESS...WAS A LIFE TIME ENDOWMENT SET UP FOR CARE,MAINTENANCE,CONSTRUSTION & UP KEEP? OR DO U PAY 4 IT WITH TAXES? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE PARK....SOOOOOOOOOO JUST A QUESTION.. HAVA GOOD DAY
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3/13/2016 12:49 pm |
JUSTA QUESTION...NO MORE--NO LESS...WAS A LIFE TIME ENDOWMENT SET UP FOR CARE,MAINTENANCE,CONSTRUSTION & UP KEEP? OR DO U PAY 4 IT WITH TAXES? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE PARK....SOOOOOOOOOO JUST A QUESTION.. HAVA GOOD DAY Spiritwoman ^i^
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3/13/2016 2:18 pm |
It does. We don't have any parks like that here either. We do have all of the facilities covered in the city where my house is but they are not all in one location. The only place I have ever seen a facility such as this one was in Santa Fe New Mexico. For it's size that city has the best public facilities of any I have seen. Spiritwoman ^i^
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The great aspect of the 'free services and venues' is that they are paid for through our taxes, and can be enjoyed by everyone. So many programs are in place which we don't individually pay upfront for...police, firefighters, parks & recreation, roadways, bridges, etc. Democratic socialism can be a good thing since it keeps a balance between runaway capitalism and the needs of a society.
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3/14/2016 9:28 am |
I pick up free stuff all the time. Half of my t-shirts are roadkill. Every bike I have used for in town riding in the past 20 years has been built from discarded parts.
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3/14/2016 11:15 pm |
I pick up free stuff all the time. Half of my t-shirts are roadkill. Every bike I have used for in town riding in the past 20 years has been built from discarded parts. Spiritwoman ^i^
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3/14/2016 11:19 pm |
Even in our more affluent neighborhoods most facilities are spread out. Most of us have made use of them either for ourselves, our kids or our pets. Spiritwoman ^i^
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