> a form of rationing based on ability to pay

That is not rationing.

There is a pedantic argument to be made about the exact definition of rationing, but "rationing based on the ability to pay" as a phrase is a very common description or turn of phrase, Google confirms this.

That isn't how the word is defined. Google the definition of rationing :-)

People misuse language all the time, such as using "literally" for emphasis rather than description, but when talking economics one should stick with what the economic terms actually mean.

For a more relevant example, "free markets" do not mean you can pickup things at the market at no cost.

> That isn't how the word is defined. Google the definition of rationing :-)

I did as you suggested and got this:

> allow someone to have only (a fixed amount of a certain commodity).

So the definition does not specify the function by which resources are distributed. The "fixed amount" can be a schedule based on income and not violate the definition.

Um, a free market does not "allow" someone to have only a "fixed" amount. Trying to torture the definitions of words to make this work to save a rhetorical point is not going to work with me.

Wait? Did you really just say that a “fixed amount” is equivalent to what amounts to linear function of your income?

I guess I took the fixed value to be the function, and not the... value. I see my misunderstanding now.