"Skylune" wrote in
lkaboutaviation.com:

by "Steven P. McNicoll" Apr 11, 2006 at
06:31 PM


The libertarian view would eliminate libraries and the space program?
I don't think so. It would certainly eliminate taxpayer support of
libraries,
but I don't think libertarians are opposed to the funding of libraries
by

the Andrew Carnegies of the world or by user fees. I also do not
believe

libertarians are opposed to the portion of the space program that
serves a

valid defense need, but they would certainly eliminate that portion
that serves pure science.




Yes. In general, user fees that do not distort economic behaviour are
favored over general tax support. If I provide a subsidy for
something, more of it will be created than the economics justify. For
that reason, taxes should only be levied for things that are purely in
the interest of the public at large.

Recreational flying does not serve the public at large, and should
therefore be 100% funded by the participants. At a local airport,
they charge no landing fees, charge only about $600 per year for a tie
down, and thats it. Overnight tie-down is $5. Yet, they receive
millions of dollars in AIP grants (derived from general taxpayer
dollars and commercial airline ticket taxes), $150K annual operating
subsidy, state subsidies, etc. They even wanted the city to kick in
some $$ so as not to "burden" airport users. Hey, who subsidizes my
boating: It costs $3500 per year for the slip; transient slips will
cost upwards of $75 per night, etc. Yet, a marina has minimal
infrastructure compared to an active GA airport. Tax subsidies make
GA flying artificially cheap.






So you pay for the dredging, the shorline maintainence, and in many
cases the gazillion dollars for the dam and land costs that created that
lake??

Public funding of small city/county airport by local govt especially
makes sense because of the economic activity it generates. its a simple
$- in $$$- out equation.

--
-- ET :-)

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