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Cheers. Probably makes sense considering the "freedom" mentality in the US where everyone has to work for himself compared to the welfare state mentality in Eur

Cheers. Probably makes sense considering the "freedom" mentality in the US where everyone has to work for himself compared to the welfare state mentality in Europe. Actually makes me feel a bit good for paying my taxes :)

toomuchtodo 10y ago
Kudos. I like your style. I paid $42K in federal taxes last year, I'd pay more to get universal healthcare and real social safety nets here.
- jessaustin 10y ago
  If you'd pay more taxes, would you also simply donate more toward such efforts? If not, would you donate under some Kickstarter-like scheme in which pledges of donation were only enforced in the event that some threshold were met? Congratulations on your income!
  - toomuchtodo 10y ago
    > If you'd pay more taxes, would you also simply donate more toward such efforts? I currently am, but to Watsi.org. It gives me a bigger bang per dollar compared to the amount of middlemen in the US healthcare model. I've thought about several ways to drive down the healthcare in the US, and it seems the only sure fire method is for politicians to get into office who believe in single payer. To that end, I use my wealth to max out my contributions to campaigns and PACs (if applicable) of candidates who support that goal. > Congratulations on your income! No need for that at all. I only mention it because, so often, I hear people say, "I'm tired of taxes! Less taxes! You already tax me enough!". To which I say, "Its complicated". I mention it because there are people out there (like myself) who do not mind paying taxes. With my tax dollars, I buy civilization. I would like to buy more civilization for my fellow humans, but I need their help as well, otherwise my efforts are wasted into the ether by themselves. We are all in this together.
  - Annatar 10y ago
    Charities and donations will not truly solve the problem. United States needs major reforms: 1. implement what I term socio-capitalism (private property and enterpreneurship is protected, but there is a social safety net in the form of universal health care and unemployment benefits) -- U.S. already made the first step with "Obamacare", but there is a lot more to do; 2. reform the government to reflect the Swiss model 1:1, and institute direct democracy, as well as make lobbying highly illegal. Admittedly reforming the government will be a very difficult task, for those in power will fight by every means available to preserve it. The good news is, it could be done through the current political process.
  - harmegido 10y ago
    She/he could do that, but it wouldn't make a large impact. I think the OP meant that they'd rather pay more taxes with the assumption that everyone else is paying more taxes too. That would make a large impact. It's the same reason why it's not hypocritical for the super rich to desire higher taxes on the rich, yet still pay the minimum legal requirement.
- the_ancient 10y ago
  I find it shocking that anyone wants to trust the American Government with their health.. That seems to be extremely idiotic given the record the American Government has when dealing with Health Care, pick either Medicaid, Medicare or the VA system.... You want that on a National "Universal" Scale... are you a sadist or something? Most of the current problems with Health care costs in this nation are directly attributable to government policies dating back to the 40's
  - tstrimple 10y ago
    That's because your information on Medicare is wrong. I and many others would be happy with Medicare for everyone. It's well run and more efficient than private insurance. Expanding Medicare to everyone would give it even more bargaining power and price controls. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-column-miller-medicare-idUSBRE87E15N20120815 http://www.reuters.com/article/us-column-miller-medicare-idU...
    - ericd 10y ago
      Yep, Medicare is very efficient. Medicaid, on the other hand, is state by state, and is oftentimes run very poorly. I would love to have Medicare for all.
    - the_ancient 10y ago
      Medicare also has a payout problem so bad that doctors refuse to accept. Many providers have stop taking Medicare, I know my grandmother has all kinds of problems find places outside of the Hospital to take medicare Price Controls have never worked in the history of man kind, we have a over all provider shortage now, if you remove the incentives and make being a Doctor a low paying job no one will spend the money to become a doctor. Price control always result in any less supply or lower quality or both... That is what Medicare will get you, EXTREME wait times, it will take you weeks or months to be able to see a doctor, but hey it will be free, who cares if you die while on a wait list..... You get what you pay for
      - rtpg 10y ago
joslin01 10y ago
I'm sure there's financial sense behind it too. Americans aren't just cowboys firing off their "freedom" guns at every major decision we come to.
- toomuchtodo 10y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugged_individualism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugged_individualism Which works fine until you realize you don't operate in a vacuum, and your destiny is influenced by forces outside of your control.
  - joslin01 10y ago
    What are you talking about? I said it probably makes financial sense too. I know the HN community abhors things like budgets getting in the way of universal healthcare & longer unemployment benefits, but there's a limit to what can be spent. Let me just say we should be spending a lot less money on war and a lot more money on welfare. Yet let me also say that the genesis of many ghettos was in a "war on poverty" that pushed for low-income housing. You're not being immoral by trying to evaluate each side and it certainly does not make me a rugged individualist.
    - toomuchtodo 10y ago
      I wasn't referring to you in particular, but Americans as a whole. The thought that if you work hard, you will always succeed. This is not the case, of course. I agree with your post.
      - joslin01 10y ago
        I just got done cleaning the dishes when I was like oh wait, maybe he wasn't referring to me? Sure enough. Sorry about that I understand now.
        toomuchtodo 10y ago

toomuchtodo 10y ago

Kudos. I like your style. I paid $42K in federal taxes last year, I'd pay more to get universal healthcare and real social safety nets here.

jessaustin 10y ago
If you'd pay more taxes, would you also simply donate more toward such efforts? If not, would you donate under some Kickstarter-like scheme in which pledges of donation were only enforced in the event that some threshold were met? Congratulations on your income!
- toomuchtodo 10y ago
  > If you'd pay more taxes, would you also simply donate more toward such efforts? I currently am, but to Watsi.org. It gives me a bigger bang per dollar compared to the amount of middlemen in the US healthcare model. I've thought about several ways to drive down the healthcare in the US, and it seems the only sure fire method is for politicians to get into office who believe in single payer. To that end, I use my wealth to max out my contributions to campaigns and PACs (if applicable) of candidates who support that goal. > Congratulations on your income! No need for that at all. I only mention it because, so often, I hear people say, "I'm tired of taxes! Less taxes! You already tax me enough!". To which I say, "Its complicated". I mention it because there are people out there (like myself) who do not mind paying taxes. With my tax dollars, I buy civilization. I would like to buy more civilization for my fellow humans, but I need their help as well, otherwise my efforts are wasted into the ether by themselves. We are all in this together.
- Annatar 10y ago
  Charities and donations will not truly solve the problem. United States needs major reforms: 1. implement what I term socio-capitalism (private property and enterpreneurship is protected, but there is a social safety net in the form of universal health care and unemployment benefits) -- U.S. already made the first step with "Obamacare", but there is a lot more to do; 2. reform the government to reflect the Swiss model 1:1, and institute direct democracy, as well as make lobbying highly illegal. Admittedly reforming the government will be a very difficult task, for those in power will fight by every means available to preserve it. The good news is, it could be done through the current political process.
- harmegido 10y ago
  She/he could do that, but it wouldn't make a large impact. I think the OP meant that they'd rather pay more taxes with the assumption that everyone else is paying more taxes too. That would make a large impact. It's the same reason why it's not hypocritical for the super rich to desire higher taxes on the rich, yet still pay the minimum legal requirement.
the_ancient 10y ago
I find it shocking that anyone wants to trust the American Government with their health.. That seems to be extremely idiotic given the record the American Government has when dealing with Health Care, pick either Medicaid, Medicare or the VA system.... You want that on a National "Universal" Scale... are you a sadist or something? Most of the current problems with Health care costs in this nation are directly attributable to government policies dating back to the 40's
- tstrimple 10y ago
  That's because your information on Medicare is wrong. I and many others would be happy with Medicare for everyone. It's well run and more efficient than private insurance. Expanding Medicare to everyone would give it even more bargaining power and price controls. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-column-miller-medicare-idUSBRE87E15N20120815 http://www.reuters.com/article/us-column-miller-medicare-idU...
  - ericd 10y ago
    Yep, Medicare is very efficient. Medicaid, on the other hand, is state by state, and is oftentimes run very poorly. I would love to have Medicare for all.
  - the_ancient 10y ago
    Medicare also has a payout problem so bad that doctors refuse to accept. Many providers have stop taking Medicare, I know my grandmother has all kinds of problems find places outside of the Hospital to take medicare Price Controls have never worked in the history of man kind, we have a over all provider shortage now, if you remove the incentives and make being a Doctor a low paying job no one will spend the money to become a doctor. Price control always result in any less supply or lower quality or both... That is what Medicare will get you, EXTREME wait times, it will take you weeks or months to be able to see a doctor, but hey it will be free, who cares if you die while on a wait list..... You get what you pay for
    - rtpg 10y ago

joslin01 10y ago

I'm sure there's financial sense behind it too. Americans aren't just cowboys firing off their "freedom" guns at every major decision we come to.

toomuchtodo 10y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugged_individualism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugged_individualism Which works fine until you realize you don't operate in a vacuum, and your destiny is influenced by forces outside of your control.
- joslin01 10y ago
  What are you talking about? I said it probably makes financial sense too. I know the HN community abhors things like budgets getting in the way of universal healthcare & longer unemployment benefits, but there's a limit to what can be spent. Let me just say we should be spending a lot less money on war and a lot more money on welfare. Yet let me also say that the genesis of many ghettos was in a "war on poverty" that pushed for low-income housing. You're not being immoral by trying to evaluate each side and it certainly does not make me a rugged individualist.
  - toomuchtodo 10y ago
    I wasn't referring to you in particular, but Americans as a whole. The thought that if you work hard, you will always succeed. This is not the case, of course. I agree with your post.
    - joslin01 10y ago
      I just got done cleaning the dishes when I was like oh wait, maybe he wasn't referring to me? Sure enough. Sorry about that I understand now.
      - toomuchtodo 10y ago