Ayn Rand is an idiot thought profound by parents'-basement-dwellers everywhere, I don't know why she's creeping into this discussion amongst intelligent people...
the bottom line is that this deal seems questionable on many fronts (as do many government subsidies for private business). If this were put to a referendum for the residents of Silver Spring, would they approve it? I don't think so.
Suing is a reasonable business reaction to an inappropriate and potentially damaging action.
I agree Doctor Doom. The reason I mentioned Ayn Rand is because of this quote from Seth Hurwitz on June 9 of this year on the Lefsetz Newsletter:
"let me make something perfectly clear to anyone who hasn't read Ayn Rand:
I AM A CAPITALIST...I AM TRYING TO MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AT THIS AS I CAN"
Looks like Seth can't win. He's not running a charity or some non-profit, you know.
Now if Mr. Natural straps up his burro and goes around the city selling cucumbers, I guess it would be for kicks or something other than 'trying to make the most money that he can'. Just wait until he finds out that the tax money he's collected to pay off the man is then going straight into the pockets of Hans across the street to sell cucumbers to the same people. Plus, Hans isn't paying to feed and shelter his burro. Mr. Natural's Cucumber business and the good citizens are. But Mr. Natural better still come up with all of his taxes, fees, etc., while paying for every aspect of his business on his own. And if he dare complains, he'll be taken down by those who think that he has no right to do so.
