4 ms·

I can't speak on behalf of 'people,' but I can speak on behalf of myself. Universal health coverage would be very expensive, and if a large portion of it were p

by astine 18y ago

I can't speak on behalf of 'people,' but I can speak on behalf of myself. Universal health coverage would be very expensive, and if a large portion of it were paid with capital gain's taxes, you can bet that it would effect my decision making process of whether it was worth going through the effort to begin a startup. It would certainly effect my strategy and golas in starting one.

timr 18y ago
"Universal health coverage would be very expensive" You're focusing on the trees. Who do you think pays the private health care premiums for your hypothetical startup? The insurance fairy? That money comes out of your pocket, today -- not out of (speculative) future capital gains dollars. And since it's nearly always more expensive (per head) to insure smaller groups, you're very likely going to pay more by insuring your own small company, versus participating in a national program. That said, I don't necessarily think that capital gains are the best place to find money for health care. But if it came down to a choice between raising capital gains taxes (which are quite low in this country) to fund universal coverage, and eliminating our already meager capital gains taxes to "promote" small business, I'd take the health care in a minute. And I'd still start a company, because my expected upside will massively exceed any loss due to taxes -- again, it's all about perspective. At the end of the day, the "taxes discourage business" canard only works for the ultra-rich, who already have significant capital gains to protect. For the rest of us, it's a much better deal to get guaranteed health coverage.
- delackner 18y ago
  Given the overwhelming evidence that nationalized health care is more efficient and humane (by definition, covering everyone), I really don't think you will get far arguing with the holdouts that have their fingers in their ears.
  - viggity 18y ago
    more efficient? what planet are you from? Canada: 8 weeks for heart surgery America: Next Week. Nova Scotia: 25 weeks for a specialty consult Iowa: 1 week for a specialty consult http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/10/15/waittimes-fraser.html http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/10/15/waittimes-fraser.h...
  - tipjoy 18y ago
    So the answer is so obvious that any opposition isn't worth hearing, and no debate is necessary? You have your fingers in your ears.

by astine 18y ago

timr 18y ago

"Universal health coverage would be very expensive" You're focusing on the trees. Who do you think pays the private health care premiums for your hypothetical startup? The insurance fairy? That money comes out of your pocket, today -- not out of (speculative) future capital gains dollars. And since it's nearly always more expensive (per head) to insure smaller groups, you're very likely going to pay more by insuring your own small company, versus participating in a national program. That said, I don't necessarily think that capital gains are the best place to find money for health care. But if it came down to a choice between raising capital gains taxes (which are quite low in this country) to fund universal coverage, and eliminating our already meager capital gains taxes to "promote" small business, I'd take the health care in a minute. And I'd still start a company, because my expected upside will massively exceed any loss due to taxes -- again, it's all about perspective. At the end of the day, the "taxes discourage business" canard only works for the ultra-rich, who already have significant capital gains to protect. For the rest of us, it's a much better deal to get guaranteed health coverage.

delackner 18y ago
Given the overwhelming evidence that nationalized health care is more efficient and humane (by definition, covering everyone), I really don't think you will get far arguing with the holdouts that have their fingers in their ears.
- viggity 18y ago
  more efficient? what planet are you from? Canada: 8 weeks for heart surgery America: Next Week. Nova Scotia: 25 weeks for a specialty consult Iowa: 1 week for a specialty consult http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/10/15/waittimes-fraser.html http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/10/15/waittimes-fraser.h...
- tipjoy 18y ago
  So the answer is so obvious that any opposition isn't worth hearing, and no debate is necessary? You have your fingers in your ears.