Why taxes?

If we eliminate Bob the Civil Servant's position, then we're not compensating whatever volunteer spends his time doing the job for free. And time is money, so we just taxed that volunteer for the job instead of spreading the cost around society.

The opportunity cost of relying on unpaid workers is entirely on those civic-minded volunteers. But if we use the state to accomplish the same ends with civil servants, we spread the cost around.

The problem?

In the USA, we've had special interests and the media do a good job of pooh-poohing concerns about genetically modified crops. But maybe we're just being suckered.

Why do we subsidize GM crops; & support patent rights for them, creating intellectual property suits when they cross-pollinate other crops--but then charge organic farmers for certification? Why are we in short pushing GM foods as a matter of policy?

We live in a science-fiction age.