[quote=sdnerd][quote=captcha]
My argument is that the same level of service would cost less than $80/month, or that you would get more for $80/month if you had market forces other than cronyism at work.[/quote]

I’m pretty sure there are countless services out there that could be done better, and cheaper.

Yes I’d absolutely rather pay $40/mo vs. $80/mo for the same service if I could.

However, my options today are either pay $0/mo and hope my neighbors and neighborhood take care of themselves. Or, pay $80/mo to ensure that one of my neighbors doesn’t turn their garage into a Tommy Behama retail store every weekend or fall in love with hot pink stucco.

Given those choices, I’d rather over pay then not pay at all.[/quote]

Ditto. That’s why I’m here, not someplace else.
I will also use the tools available to minimize wasteful inefficiencies that cost me time, money or quality of life.

I appreciate the benefits of orderly society, but I also ask ‘how can we make it better?’