Re: “U.S. can’t afford to keep expanding the size of its welfare state” (Oct. 27, Opinion):
Columnist Allison Schrager’s perspective was topical given the current U.S. government shutdown.
While I would readily agree that our “welfare state” cannot grow unabated, the cost of Affordable Care Act health care subsidies, which is dramatically different than a pure handout, is relatively minuscule at $350 billion over 10 years or $35 billion per year. The current annual U.S. Budget is over $6 trillion, thus $35 billion equals 58/100’s of 1%. Unfunded tax cuts, such as the ones approved earlier this year, have contributed to the current $37 trillion national debt.
Is it really unreasonable for the richest country in history to provide such a low cost and eminently worthwhile benefit to over 20 million fellow Americans in need?
Steve Sutherland, Mercer Island
