FEES: Atlas shrugs (again)

I was surprised to see in The Press that the average student fees for college in Idaho increased by 34 percent from 2010 through 2017. Every year I receive a notice from my county retirement plan showing how much is deducted for my health care premiums. For 2010 through 2017, my premiums increased by 134 percent. This is quite an economic burden but this increase does not include medications, office visits and hospital expenses — these are extra out-of-pocket costs on top of the 134 percent.

Much of these increases are due to the fact that our government provides medical care, dental care, subsidized housing, child tax credits, food stamps and free education to anyone and everyone who just happens to show up in our country invited or not. If you think the 34 percent increase is a tough burden to bear, just wait until you finish college and have to support everyone on the planet — because of course, the world will tell you that you owe it to them!

STEVE NOVAK

Coeur d’Alene