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Defense? “The market at work” (ignoring labor isn’t a perfect market and being an over-controlling asshole isn’t required to make a profit). The US is just an

Defense? “The market at work” (ignoring labor isn’t a perfect market and being an over-controlling asshole isn’t required to make a profit). The US is just anti-labor and in love with cheap consumables. Combined, we end up with a massive case of haves and have-nots. Vacation, sick leave, retirement accounts, medical care. It’s great if you’re rich (as damn near everybody on this forum is). My brother in law is an auto mechanic here in the US. My uncle as well, but in Scotland. While they’re overall income is pretty close (solidly middle class) the amount of financial stress in the US is MUCH MUCH higher. It’s so short-sighted. I’d happily pay another $30k/year or more in taxes for nationalized medical, lower college costs and other things most Europeans have.

Reubend 3y ago
If you make enough money that you would be happy "happy" paying an extra $30,000 per year, then you're either a very generous person or an outlier. Most Americans wouldn't want to pay that much extra even if they could afford to.
- rqtwteye 3y ago
  “ Most Americans wouldn't want to pay that much extra even if they could afford to.” And then they pay that extra through costs for imprisonment, homelessness and other stuff. And for healthcare the US pays almost twice as much per capita than other countries. It’s just dumb.
kortilla 3y ago
> I’d happily pay another $30k/year or more in taxes for nationalized medical, lower college costs and other things most Europeans have. The average household income in the US is around 80k. That’s like 55k after taxes. Are you proposing they give up another 30k of that?
- wffurr 3y ago
  I seriously doubt GP’s income is average. They did not make any claims about the average households tax burden either, only their own.
- alistairSH 3y ago
  I never said any such thing. I said I’d pay that amount or more. And anybody with employer provided medical insurance is probably paying ten thousand or more into that already - with a national medical system, that money is “freed up” (probably to be taken as tax). And between college loans and medical insurance, I probably pay close to that already. And on the medical side, I’d rather it went to a national program that didn’t tightly couple people to their employers.

Reubend 3y ago

If you make enough money that you would be happy "happy" paying an extra $30,000 per year, then you're either a very generous person or an outlier. Most Americans wouldn't want to pay that much extra even if they could afford to.

rqtwteye 3y ago
“ Most Americans wouldn't want to pay that much extra even if they could afford to.” And then they pay that extra through costs for imprisonment, homelessness and other stuff. And for healthcare the US pays almost twice as much per capita than other countries. It’s just dumb.

kortilla 3y ago

> I’d happily pay another $30k/year or more in taxes for nationalized medical, lower college costs and other things most Europeans have. The average household income in the US is around 80k. That’s like 55k after taxes. Are you proposing they give up another 30k of that?

wffurr 3y ago
I seriously doubt GP’s income is average. They did not make any claims about the average households tax burden either, only their own.
alistairSH 3y ago
I never said any such thing. I said I’d pay that amount or more. And anybody with employer provided medical insurance is probably paying ten thousand or more into that already - with a national medical system, that money is “freed up” (probably to be taken as tax). And between college loans and medical insurance, I probably pay close to that already. And on the medical side, I’d rather it went to a national program that didn’t tightly couple people to their employers.