Ha, the "I pay taxes" type I see. Paying taxes doesn't necessarily mean you care. For example part of the taxes I pay will go into the Military Industrial Complex, but yet I wish they don't exist.

One way to reduce the chance of meeting "unpleasant" people (are they really unpleasant or has your perception just changed as you age?), is to just have more of public transportation! Besides pure statistics, it also makes people's lives better and will reduce poverty.

transportation is expensive and must be paid somehow. For most people good public transportation would realistically cost them $100 per month - that is less than they spend on a car per month but still a lot of money. (Car costs are mostly hidden - you spend less than that in gas, not noticing the payments, insurance which are paid differently, or maitenance which is large bills not often).

when looking at the above, most people live in a couple situation so think of it as selling one car and keeping the other - it still saves money and you get the best of both worlds. This only works though if transit is getting that money from everyone already though since you need that much before it is useful to those who would pay.