Reply #25: Is that any way to treat my mom?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

She has money in munis. Further, at my suggestion, she had bought into a muni bond fund. I should have taken my own advice, as it has outperformed stocks over the last year or so.

You want munis to be triple-tax-free; it's a good policy. Why is that?

If it weren't for municipal bonds, cities and counties wouldn't be able to construct any libraries, schools, bicycle trails, or park facilities. My mom is among those financing those things, and I'm not the least bit bothered. Those things cost money, and you need to borrow it from the people who have it. You're going to have to make the bonds attractive to those with the money. Fail to do that, and say bye-bye to new schools and libraries. Those are the facts.

Muni bonds: they're a good thing.