Honoring Our Neighbor’s Choices is the Key and it Begins with ATM Fees.

by Jack VanNoord

In January,  self-appointed consumer advocate Nancy Cowles was urging Springfield to outlaw ATM fees. ATM fees can be as high as three or four dollars.

Sound great, doesn’t it?  Problem is, using the legislation to achieve that end is an act of aggression against out neighbor’s choices.  We have a business that is offering a service for a fee, consumers who are willing to pay that fee...and then we have a third party calling out “Not so fast you two!”

In New Jersey it is illegal for gas stations to offer self-serve pumps.  In New York city, it is illegal to pay  someone to braid your hair unless she is a graduate of an accredited cosmetology school.

I am sure that these misguided acts of legislation were driven by the best of intentions.  But the fact remains: the law was used to interfere in the peaceful transactions of consenting adults.  Overriding --via the legislature-- our neighbor’s choices is no way to build a civil society.

Today, you may succeed in forcing banks to do away with irksome ATM fees.  But, then tomorrow, it will be my turn to be the aggressor and your turn to be the victim.  And the day after that, it will somebody else’s turn to use the power of government against both of us.

Instead of a Republic built on individual freedom and responsibility, we have a majority-rules Democracy in which we take turns being the aggressor and the victim.

Yesterday, someone used the legislative process to preempt my peaceful transactions, so I guess today it’s my turn.  Hmmmm...how could I get government to do to you that which I would never consider doing to you directly?  Let’s see.  I like to exercise.  A new fitness center on my side of town would be nice.  I could use taxation to force you to pay for a rec center you will never use. 

I think that all births should take place in a hospital attended by a physician.  I could make it a criminal act for you to have your child in your home attended by the healthcare provider of your choice.  Or I could have government seize your land so that it can be sold to someone who will develop it to my liking.  Hmmmm...so much to do, so few legislative sessions.

And so the cycle continues.  Dr. Mary Ruwart in her book “Healing Our World” points out the irony and tragedy of the Aggressor-Victim cycle. “In trying to control others, we find ourselves controlled.” 

We have a war on drugs that is an abysmal failure, an education system that is btoken and a social security system facing insolvency.  But before you go looking for the evil “Them” that has perpetuated all this on us, ask yourself  “In what ways have I played the aggressor?”  

Were you hoping that self-described consumer advocate Nancy Cowles would win her battle against ATM fees?  If so, then you have to look no further for the source of our problems than the nearest mirror.  I have found the enemy, and we are them.

How does this victim-aggressor cycle end?  It ends when each of us stops initiating aggression against our neighbors through legislation.  It ends when we learn to honor our neighbor’s choices.

It ends when we stop demanding that ATM banking be free of charge. 

Either accept the fee the bank charges, or take the extra time to swing by Jewel/Osco to cash a check.  But do not go to Springfield to use government to get what you want.  Shame on Nancy Cowles for trying to do so.  Shame on any of us who cheered her on. 

Final note:  Fortunately, in February the Illinois House saw fit to vote 70-32 against legislation that would have banned ATM fees.  Maybe there is hope.

04-18-2001

Written by Jack VanNoord - West Dundee.