From: jwh@citi.umich.edu (Jim Howe)
Subject: Re: VOTE, BABY, VOTE!
Date: Fri, 06 Nov 92 09:47:07 EST
Organization: IFS Project, University of Michigan
Reply-To: jwh@citi.umich.edu

In article <1992Nov5.235204.24934@dbsun.uucp>, harbison@dbsun.uucp (harbison) writes:
|> In article <1992Nov5.024432.8138@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>
|> fcrary@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (Frank Crary) writes:
|> > ... Exactly which federal programs benifit the rich more than the poor?
|> 
|> * Defense spending: big profits go to defense contractors and their
|>   stockholders, plus the rich have more to protect.

Defense spending also means defense jobs.  Most of these jobs are held
by people would would be classified as middle class.  In addition, many
of the stockholders are pension plans and mutual funds owned by
employees and retirees.

|> 
|> * Law enforcement: again, the rich have more to protect.
|> 

It does not cost increasing amounts to protect additional wealth.
Have you ever heard of economies of scale?  Once a bank is built,
for example, it costs no more to protect $1 than it does $1,000,000.

|> * Farm subsidies: mostly go to big farm corporations.

Agreed, so eliminate the subsidies.

|> 
|> * Water subsidies: billions of gallons of federally subsidized water go
|>   to big corporate farms in southern California.
|> 

Agreed, so eliminate the subsidies.

|> * Export subsidies: help big businesses sell their products abroad.

Agreed, so eliminate the subsidies. (This is getting repetitive)
|> 
|> * Transportation: federal money spent on airports and interstate high-
|>   ways benefit business and the rich more than the poor.  Money spent
|>   on dams and locks benefit property owners and pleasure boaters.  How
|>   many poor people have you seen flying or boating?  Many poor people
|>   never venture more than 50 miles from home.  They simply can't afford
|>   to travel.

There is a vast gap between rich and poor.  A gap known as the middle
class.  I think you would find they benefit as much as the rich.

|> 
|> * Education: government (especially at the local level) seems to spend
|>   more on schools in rich neighborhoods, benefiting rich children.

And local taxes are higher in those neighborhoods as well.

|> 
|> * Housing: Thanks to Sec. Sam Pierce, HUD money goes to big real estate
|>   developers to build housing where it isn't even needed.
|> 

So eliminate the money.

|> * Savings & Loan bailout: depositors with more than $100,000 at risk
|>   are being covered by the FSLIC/RTC.  Many of these investors shopped
|>   for the highest rate, ignoring the rating of the institution.  Their
|>   greed should not be rewarded.
|> 

Agreed, so limit protection to $100,000.

|> * SEC: protects stockholders.  Most poor people don't own stock.

Buy many middle class people do, particularly in the form of retirement
accounts (pensions, IRA's, etc.)

|> 
|> I am not against most of the programs listed above.  I'm sure society
|> benefits from having airports, highways, dams, sound financial insti-
|> tutions, regulated securities, healthy exports, and a strong defense.
|> However, I think wealthy people should realize that they have benefitted
|> the most from this great country and should be willing to pay their fair
|> share.
|> 

It just sounds to me like you want to enjoy the supposed benefits
of the above programs without paying the costs.  If the benefits
are primarily going to the rich, there is no reason to have the
programs.  If you argue that benefits accrue to 'society' then
'society' should bear the cost, not just the rich.


James W. Howe                  internet: jwh@citi.umich.edu
University of Michigan             uucp: uunet!mailrus!citi.umich.edu!jwh
Ann Arbor, MI   48103-4943         
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