The AP reports that a Census Bureau analysis shows the federal tax system doesn't exactly distribute the wealth evenly, "[W]ealthy states pay more than poor ones, blue states subsidize red states and states with powerful politicians on key House and Senate committees fare well in federal spending." Hardly surprising, considering that all states need federal programs of some kind, and when Republicans in red states are elected on a platform of no new taxes, those states end up with shortages. These shortages also end up getting paid for by favors on the federal level. It all works out pretty well, except that this whole Republican show about not raising taxes is a farce. Nothing new, but someone should start pointing this out to people who keep voting for the tax breaks but use federal programs and services. --Kay Steiger