Without doing any research, in which states do you think people pay the most taxes to the federal government? Which states get back more than they pay in?

In reality, there are 37 states, including Michigan, that take more tax money from other states than we pay in.

The worst moocher states include: New Mexico, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia. These mostly red states are more dependent on federal government handouts and often suffer from low wages, a poor education system and poor health care.

That leaves 13 giver states, like New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Colorado, to subsidize the rest of us. These mostly blue states generally have a higher gross domestic product, higher wages and better quality of life.

Just to be clear: the states most dependent on the federal government are mostly red and the states least dependent are mostly blue. These blue states bail out/support/pull their resources together to prop up mostly red states. This is an example of socialism.

Although Republicans love to scream against it, they have no problem when it benefits them.

Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, is a perfect example. In 2017, his state received $40 billion more from the federal government than it paid in taxes. The aid supports more jobs for Kentuckians who work in hospitals kept afloat by Medicare and Medicaid and in retail establishments kept going by Social Security and food stamps than in all traditional occupations like mining and agriculture combined.

Even though McConnell has been Kentucky’s senator for 36 years, their health, education and private industry job prospects rate at the bottom of our nation.

Let’s be more prosperous, Michigan. It’s time to vote blue!

ELAINE STENGER,

Alpena Township