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I agree with him that our social safety net gets bogged down by politics and government. I would like to see us have a better safety net like Sweden or Denmark. Unfortunately, we don't have the homogenous, small population those countries have, so it is more complicated and costly here. Just think of how much money could be saved on driver's license applications if they were in one language instead of the 16 or so they currently offer. There could be a lot of costs saved just by having a single language.
It’s possible. Be alright with personal income tax rates of up to 61%. Mind you, the corporate tax rate is 22%. These are Swedish tax rates - not sure about Denmark. So no complaining about high taxes and corporations “not paying their fair share”.
Also, they have a shrinking population and know they have a major problem ahead of them in funding the social benefits system. There are few children being born, so few future taxpayers with pockets to pick.
Sweden’s economy maxed out in the 1960s. There are good aspects of their society, but it’s not all roses as this country’s progressives make it out to be. I’ve read several surveys about why Danes are among the happiest in the world. The primary reason is lower expectations. They simply aren’t raised with the same expectations for life that many are in this country. Again, pluses and minuses I imagine.
Or we could create a sovereign wealth fund like Norway. It’s kind of like Alaska’s but much, much larger. But progressives won’t like that because like oil and stuff.
Wanting the excesses of capitalism to be reined in is not a march to socialism.
Regretfully the wealthy and their mindless minions in the working class have successfully redefined socialism to mean anything that the right deems costly to business. The mindless minions that I speak of are often retired union members who are wrapped in the flag, and voting for the right not knowing that they are shooting at their own feet.
Regretfully the wealthy and their mindless minions in the working class have successfully redefined socialism to mean anything that the right deems costly to business. The mindless minions that I speak of are often retired union members who are wrapped in the flag, and voting for the right not knowing that they are shooting at their own feet.
And what have you done to rise above the unwashed prole masses?
Americans couldn't give you an accurate definition of socialism to save their lives. They think Europe is socialist, LOL!
Most of the "socialists" in American politics are calling for things that used to exist in America's own past, such as tuition-free college. State universities used to be paid for by the states, wow what a concept!
You made that statement as if you are above most Americans, you know better then them. Maybe it’s time to be less self-absorbed.
It’s possible. Be alright with personal income tax rates of up to 61%. Mind you, the corporate tax rate is 22%. These are Swedish tax rates - not sure about Denmark. So no complaining about high taxes and corporations “not paying their fair share”.
Also, they have a shrinking population and know they have a major problem ahead of them in funding the social benefits system. There are few children being born, so few future taxpayers with pockets to pick.
Sweden’s economy maxed out in the 1960s. There are good aspects of their society, but it’s not all roses as this country’s progressives make it out to be. I’ve read several surveys about why Danes are among the happiest in the world. The primary reason is lower expectations. They simply aren’t raised with the same expectations for life that many are in this country. Again, pluses and minuses I imagine.
Or we could create a sovereign wealth fund like Norway. It’s kind of like Alaska’s but much, much larger. But progressives won’t like that because like oil and stuff.
Sweden has done pretty much everything they can to incentivize childbirth. They have very generous paid family leave for both men and women, subsidized day care, great schools, they give families a generous tax credit when they have a kid. There's not much more they can do at the governmental level to make having children easier.
The truth is, the more a society educates its women, the fewer children they will have. Educated women have fewer children. This usually accompanies prosperity and civil rights. If you've got women going to college and working, they can't really start having kids until ~30, which means you've lost more than half of their child-bearing years. To add to that, in a rich country, kids are luxury, not a necessity.
Demographers have tracked this trend back to the middle ages. Rich countries have to wrap their heads around that.
That’s all fine and well. Doesn’t change the reality that they will not be able to fund the social benefits of the older generation with the taxes of the smaller generation following them. Same problem that our SS system faces, arguably worse.
Can’t have it both ways - generous social benefits with no taxpayers to fund it. I’m all for the no kids part. I don’t want to pay 50+% in income taxes.
That’s all fine and well. Doesn’t change the reality that they will not be able to fund the social benefits of the older generation with the taxes of the smaller generation following them. Same problem that our SS system faces, arguably worse.
Can’t have it both ways - generous social benefits with no taxpayers to fund it. I’m all for the no kids part. I don’t want to pay 50+% in income taxes.
Then what happens to the old people?
What happened to my great-grandfather before social security - my grandfather and grandmother put him in a corner of a room separated with a curtain for some privacy, brought him his meals, and let him waste away until he died. He was one of the lucky ones whose family at least had a house big enough for that & could afford the food.
Last edited by redguard57; 05-06-2019 at 08:18 AM..
The proposed budget suggests that we are marching away from anything remotely socialist.
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