25 Jul 2007 Welfare for Rural States

Is there anything federal taxpayers aren’t required to subsidize?

This story explains that taxpayers help rural cell phone users pay their personal phone bills — and how some want to “reform” this by changing the lmulti-billion welfare program, instead of the only proper thing, which is to eliminate it ASAP.

Supporters say phone systems are more expensive per capita when people don’t live near one another. So what? Land and housing is more expensive in well-populated areas, but urban dwellers don’t expect people in Montana, North Dakota or Alaska to pay their mortage bills for them.

Besides, urban dwellers already subsidize rural mail delivery. If cell phones are too expensive, people in rural areas can always write a letter.
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Labels: Government Spending