On Sunday, January 15, 2017 at 3:30:05 AM UTC-7, Mike Oliver wrote:
Careful you might begin to sound envious of policies which come dangerously
close to socialism. I know you in good ol US of A wouldn't want that.

I think anyone who has a medical insurance plan, attended a public school, landed at a public airport, etc.. is somewhat of a socialist. We just like to be in a state of denial here in the US .
More to the point, The US does fund the Civil Air Patrol (I am sure to the tune of much more than 280,000EU) which I understand is responsible for introducing more people to soaring than any other entity here. Most of us see this for the investment that it is.