A recent writer complained that high income earners don't pay enough taxes. According to IRS figures 47 percent of all filers pay no income taxes. That's close to a 50-50 split.
Let's look at what it would be like if the federal government ran the airlines. We are going to fly 100 people from Minneapolis to Los Angeles, Calif. To make it simple, let's say a ticket costs $400. That's $40,000 for the flight.
To determine who pays a given amount each passenger fills out a form listing their current income. The lowest income 47 pay nothing, the other 53 cover the cost of the flight. So now the average cost of the flight for the 53 goes up to $755. In actuality it would be on a sliding scale from $1,100 to $400. But we're not done yet There are five people on the flight who receive an earned income tax credit. They not only fly free but receive $200 each just for taking the flight. That's another $1,000 that the 53 have to pay. This raises the average cost to $774 for the paying customers.
Aren't you glad the government doesn't run the airlines? Yet.
Did anyone ever believe that the government could lower health care costs?
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If the local theater raised the ticket prices from $8 to $16 and then let half the people in free, how long would they be in business?
I'm all for charity, just not from the government.
Joseph Bruhn
Brainerd
