Fun fact about Roman fire brigades is that they sometimes showed up to a fire and asked for payment before putting the fire out. Self organised and profitable, what's not to like?

This meme props up the idea that the people came together and created the state as an institution in order to organize society. However, this is not true: historically, the state came into being as warbands conquered territory and collected taxes to maintain themselves. This is the "monopoly on violence" theory which is consensual in political science.

Think of the state as a structure that sits above society and extracts resources (taxes and soldiers) from it. Yes, it builds roads and educates the populace and runs a fire department, but only because an efficient transportation system, educated workers and cities that don't burn down every few years directly or indirectly strengthen it. If these services were set up directly by the people benefiting from them, wouldn't they have a different form, better adapted to their own needs rather than those of the state?

Furthermore, the state collects taxes under threat of violence and then might or might not provide the services one expects in return. This cements the overlordship of the state by creating dependence on it. Under classical liberalism state rules by the "consent of the governed.." But what consent do we give? We can't withdraw it, we can't refuse to participate, and the benefits we get are entirely up to the whims of the state. I believe USians still pay taxes during government shutdowns in spite of services suddenly halting.

We should not confuse hierarchy and organization. Yes, it is better and even necessary for society to pool together resources and organize. However this we can do without a government ruling over us, but rather as a free association of citizens.

Do people just use the word "unconstitutional" for things they don't like?

Also don't go to reddit. Shit site run by private assholes.

No, no, let’s see where this goes…

Ok so the community organized and decided it wants a fire station because in his world, there are no safety codes that builders follow and so everything keeps burning to the ground. Who is going to pitch in to fund the fire department? This isn’t a one time thing, they need enough to KEEP it running.

Ok so let’s say everyone in the community should pay a little each year so that they can keep the fire truck operational and the fire fighters fed. How should they split up the payments? I got an idea, let’s make it based on how much money they make! That way, everyone is able to contribute based on their means.

But wait, how do we collect the money and use it? That’s a lot of work. Most of the community is working full time as it is and doesn’t have bandwidth to take on this extra administrative work. But oh wait, Joe over there says he’s got a few extra hours per week and is willing to do it. Does everyone else agree to let Joe run it for us? Oh, some of you disagree. But the majority agrees so Joe will represent us as a community when making payments and keeping track of the money.

Wait a minute…

If the government collects money from the Citizens to fund programs like fire departments, that benefit all the citizens equally, regardless of need, isn't that Socialist?

We can't have that, we need to defund Fire Departments, it's the American Capitalist Way!

Ok. You first.