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Why should my tax dollars pay for your special interest group to have free meetups? How would we distribute access to this newly created resource equitably? I

by diffxx 2y ago

Why should my tax dollars pay for your special interest group to have free meetups? How would we distribute access to this newly created resource equitably? I don't disagree with the concept, but it gets hairy in the particulars. The problem is that of course we rarely ever get to vote on issues such as "should we build a community meeting space?" so we never really get to understand how the electorate truly feels.

rileymat2 2y ago
As far as distribution, you could make these same objections about any shared space, from parks to roads. In this scenario, contention for the space is the best possible problem to have, as it means the community is using it. I'd suggest providing public space is a very important role of local government, to foster community interactions.
giantrobot 2y ago
> Why should my tax dollars pay for your special interest group to have free meetups? Because they'll also pay for your special interest group meetup. If you don't have a special interest group, a low friction meeting place available makes you more likely to start one. Public space allows for a municipality to build a community.
- jpc0 2y ago
  Alternative take. I pay every month for a meeting space I cannot use because it has long term commitments when I need to have an annual meeting.
alternatetwo 2y ago
Because you unironically live in a society, and it's give and take. Special interest groups are part of a civilized society.
rtpg 2y ago
Because it's not just this but a bunch of random groups? My local library has events in meeting rooms for ESL speakers to practice English, baby book reading clubs, board game meetups, study sessions, sessions to help people with tech problems, immunisation, and of course .... book clubs. The rule is simple: you running a non-commercial event? You can use the space for free. Commercial component? Pay an hourly rate that comes out to ~$5 per person or so. There are some restrictions on events based on space but it's an obviously good thing in the same way a public park or water fountains are.
ossobuco 2y ago
> Why should my tax dollars pay for your special interest group to have free meetups? Why should your tax dollars pay education, healthcare, police, road repairs, etc? Because the society will be better off and you live in a society. The education of a child your taxes pay for will pay off exponentially when this kid becomes a professional. The meeting space your taxes pay could facilitate the creation of the next revolutionary software tech. Taxes should be considered an investment that pays off not financially but by improving your life overall. > How would we distribute access to this newly created resource equitably? A bookable calendar and a maximum amount of monthly bookable slots per organization. Nothing revolutionary really.

by diffxx 2y ago

rileymat2 2y ago

As far as distribution, you could make these same objections about any shared space, from parks to roads. In this scenario, contention for the space is the best possible problem to have, as it means the community is using it. I'd suggest providing public space is a very important role of local government, to foster community interactions.

giantrobot 2y ago

> Why should my tax dollars pay for your special interest group to have free meetups? Because they'll also pay for your special interest group meetup. If you don't have a special interest group, a low friction meeting place available makes you more likely to start one. Public space allows for a municipality to build a community.

jpc0 2y ago
Alternative take. I pay every month for a meeting space I cannot use because it has long term commitments when I need to have an annual meeting.

alternatetwo 2y ago

Because you unironically live in a society, and it's give and take. Special interest groups are part of a civilized society.

rtpg 2y ago

Because it's not just this but a bunch of random groups? My local library has events in meeting rooms for ESL speakers to practice English, baby book reading clubs, board game meetups, study sessions, sessions to help people with tech problems, immunisation, and of course .... book clubs. The rule is simple: you running a non-commercial event? You can use the space for free. Commercial component? Pay an hourly rate that comes out to ~$5 per person or so. There are some restrictions on events based on space but it's an obviously good thing in the same way a public park or water fountains are.

ossobuco 2y ago

> Why should my tax dollars pay for your special interest group to have free meetups? Why should your tax dollars pay education, healthcare, police, road repairs, etc? Because the society will be better off and you live in a society. The education of a child your taxes pay for will pay off exponentially when this kid becomes a professional. The meeting space your taxes pay could facilitate the creation of the next revolutionary software tech. Taxes should be considered an investment that pays off not financially but by improving your life overall. > How would we distribute access to this newly created resource equitably? A bookable calendar and a maximum amount of monthly bookable slots per organization. Nothing revolutionary really.