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I generally agree but I can’t in good faith trust anything the US government does. Maybe local and state governments should run free healthcare as many seem to

I generally agree but I can’t in good faith trust anything the US government does. Maybe local and state governments should run free healthcare as many seem to function much better than the federal government, but there are also state governments that are corrupt as well. Until we fix the government corruption I can’t get on the free healthcare for all train. I already pay nearly 50% of my income in taxes with little to no short or mid term benefit. Jacking that up even more for basic health coverage doesn’t feel worth it. If you’re wondering what I mean by corruption, just look at the latest Covid bill that sends billions to other countries and sneaks in random bullshit about internet streaming...into a pandemic relief bill. This isn’t a your side vs my side issue. It’s all bad. They’re all corrupt.

AnIdiotOnTheNet 6y ago
> I already pay nearly 50% of my income in taxes ...I am curious as to the math behind that. The highest federal income tax bracket in the US is 37%. Only income over $523,601 (as of 2021) is taxed at that rate.
- kgwgk 6y ago
  Payroll tax, state and local income tax, property tax, sales tax... Not sure about "over 50%" but "nearly 50%" could be "over 40%".
- ryanSrich 6y ago
  Federal and State income tax alone bring it to 46.9%. Add in property tax and it’s over 50%. Also it’s not technically income, but there’s also cap gains tax that I pay almost every year. All in all, Americans pay an insanely high tax for what we get. Our tax dollars go to corrupt politicians that use the money on foreign aid and starting wars, defense contractors and military. It’s disgusting.
orwin 6y ago
Kill companies caught corrupting politicians. A gas to electricity owner corrupting an official to disapprove a nuclear plant project? Force sell the company. A water company caught paying a city concil to reduce spending on water infrastructure/quality control? Kill the company. It is easier than running through corrupt politicians.

AnIdiotOnTheNet 6y ago

> I already pay nearly 50% of my income in taxes ...I am curious as to the math behind that. The highest federal income tax bracket in the US is 37%. Only income over $523,601 (as of 2021) is taxed at that rate.

kgwgk 6y ago
Payroll tax, state and local income tax, property tax, sales tax... Not sure about "over 50%" but "nearly 50%" could be "over 40%".
ryanSrich 6y ago
Federal and State income tax alone bring it to 46.9%. Add in property tax and it’s over 50%. Also it’s not technically income, but there’s also cap gains tax that I pay almost every year. All in all, Americans pay an insanely high tax for what we get. Our tax dollars go to corrupt politicians that use the money on foreign aid and starting wars, defense contractors and military. It’s disgusting.

orwin 6y ago

Kill companies caught corrupting politicians. A gas to electricity owner corrupting an official to disapprove a nuclear plant project? Force sell the company. A water company caught paying a city concil to reduce spending on water infrastructure/quality control? Kill the company. It is easier than running through corrupt politicians.