Dear Always,
You have to set a bar somewhere, before you can accuse people of stealing. There is a lot of use of public funds that I (assume I would not use. But how do I know what I would do if I was in their circumstances? Or better question, what would I do if I had their they of public funds? Digression: in your opinion what is the Torah’s view of government money?) when I set myself on a different track on purpose? How do you feel about millionaires lining up for the public to cover their business expenses? Or the uber rich thinking that every time they lose money, someone else should pay for it?
On the source, I was quoting the end of Kiddushin. That the wealth is not in the profession. I know people that poured their youth into getting a degree that they never used. There is plenty of jobs for one who has no need for a career. I have no interest in the hishtadlus versus bitachon debate, but it does not take years or even days of planning, to be able to support one’s self. And to make it an argument against full time learning, is just forced thinking.
In the Talmud, taking what is not yours is naturally called gezeila. I could explain it more if your interested. But without looking it up, I think your source uses a different word.
Now, for the punchline. Are you ready? Whew there is some reason that the State operates a certain way, is it theft to go along and not pay? Can I use public beaches and parks without paying? Are the good people in Lakewood allowed to use route 9 instead of the parkway? Would they have to mail in the toll money that they saved? If the people in Lakewood – young working families included – would stop taking Jerseycare and prefer to be uninsured, they get a call from the State to convince them to take the insurance. And if they would take your advice en masse, the State would come to Lakewood and set up insurance workshops in CHEMED and Dr. Shanik’s office for at least a month. That is how vital it is to the State, That people be insured.