# Free Public Services: Because Paying to Prove You Exist is Peak Capitalism

!!! quote "Alberta Freedom Philosophy"
    "Nothing says 'freedom' like paying $80 to renew your license to drive on roads you already paid for with your taxes."

[Call Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction](tel:7804226880){ .md-button }
[Email Minister of Service Alberta](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/public-services-reform){ .md-button }

[Call Danielle Smith, Premier](tel:7804272251){ .md-button }
[Email the Premier](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/public-services-vision){ .md-button }

## The Current Situation

In our perfectly rational system, we pay for:
- Birth certificates (congratulations, that'll be $40)
- Marriage licenses (love isn't free, apparently)
- Death certificates (final micro-transaction)
- Vehicle registration (annual subscription to driving)
- Business registration (pay-to-play entrepreneurship)
- Property tax assessment (paying to know how much more to pay)

## Why Public Services Should Be Free

!!! info "Because..."
    - We already fund these services with our taxes
    - They're literally called "public" services
    - Administrative fees disproportionately affect the poor
    - Bureaucracy shouldn't be a profit center
    - Existing is not a premium feature

## What Free Public Services Looks Like

### Identity Documents
- Birth certificates
- Death certificates
- Marriage licenses
- Name changes
- Gender marker updates
- Citizenship documents

### Vehicle Services
- Driver's licenses
- Vehicle registration
- License plates
- Insurance verification
- Vehicle inspection
- Parking permits

### Business Services
- Business registration
- Trade licenses
- Permits
- Certifications
- Professional licensing
- Safety codes

## The "But Government Needs Revenue!" Myth

!!! tip "Reality Check"
    - These fees are a tiny fraction of government revenue
    - Processing costs are minimal
    - Most services are already digitized
    - We're double-charging for tax-funded services
    - The poor pay more proportionally

## How We Get There

1. Eliminate administrative fees
2. Streamline digital services
3. Remove artificial barriers
4. Increase accessibility 
5. Stop treating public services like profit centers

!!! warning "Bureaucrat's Lament"
    "But how will we justify our existence without making people fill out forms in triplicate?"

## The Real Cost of Paid Public Services

- Delayed access to essential documents
- Barriers to starting businesses
- Unnecessary financial stress
- Reduced civic participation
- Administrative poverty traps

## What We're Missing

- Universal access to services
- Efficient government operations
- Reduced bureaucratic overhead
- Equal access regardless of income
- Actually public public services

## Hidden Costs We Already Pay

- Time spent in government offices
- Lost work hours
- Travel to service centers
- Multiple trips for missing documents
- Processing delays
- Mental health toll of bureaucracy

## Deep Dive Resources

[Government Overreach](../freefrom/government.md){.md-button}

[Economic Justice](../freefrom/corporate.md){.md-button}

## The Bottom Line

If corporations can register offshore accounts for free, you should be able to register your car without taking out a loan.

!!! success "Think About It"
    In a truly free society, proving your existence shouldn't come with a price tag.

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## Sources & Evidence

### Service Alberta Fees

- Alberta charges for many services that are free or cheaper in other provinces
- Registry fees generate significant revenue but create barriers for low-income Albertans
- Vehicle registration, driver's licenses, and vital statistics all carry substantial fees
- Source: [Service Alberta - Fee Schedule](https://www.alberta.ca/service-alberta.aspx)

### Privatization of Registries

- Alberta privatized registry services in 1993
- Private registry agents charge additional "convenience fees" on top of government fees
- Critics argue privatization has led to higher costs and inconsistent service
- Source: [Alberta Registries Association](https://www.albertaregistries.ca/)

### Impact on Low-Income Albertans

- Administrative fees disproportionately burden low-income individuals
- Required documents (birth certificates, ID) needed for accessing other services
- Fee waivers exist but are not widely publicized or easily accessed
- Source: [Alberta Human Services](https://www.alberta.ca/human-services.aspx)

### Digital Services

- MyAlberta Digital ID offers some online services but not all
- Digital transformation has been slow compared to other jurisdictions
- Many services still require in-person visits
- Source: [MyAlberta Digital ID](https://account.alberta.ca/)

### Comparison with Other Provinces

- Some provinces offer reduced or waived fees for low-income residents
- British Columbia eliminated fees for name and gender marker changes on ID
- Federal services like passport fees remain high across Canada
- Source: [Provincial Comparison Studies](https://www.statcan.gc.ca/)

![freealbertalogo](../assets/freealberta-logo-long-opaque.gif)