Sumitra Shah wrote ("prays"): "In the meantime, I will continue to   
listen and hope James will some day realize what a positive role public   
funding can play in making us a better society!"  
  
A correction: I appreciate the positive role of public funding for   
public goods, properly so defined.  That is, goods characterized by   
joint-consumption and difficulty of excluding from their consumption   
those who would not pay for them -- potential free-riders.  Thus,   
national defense, the police service, the administration of justice, or   
a stable financial environment qualify.  It is to the introduction of   
activities that properly belong in the private domain of funding, such   
as childcare and eldercare, Sumitra advocates, that I do not think   
promote "a better society."  These take away from personal   
responsibility and the efficient utilization of the funds diverted from   
income earners to them.  I said as much in my previous post.  
  
James Ahiakpor