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You think thousands of people have some type of conspiracy going on, colluding to present lower prices? The US prices are totally in line with reality. Same with Germany.
Here is a circular from today from a German supermarket. All prices include VAT of course:
Tomatoes: 40 US cents per pound
Bread, one pound: 60 US cents
The left has such adulation for Europe. France, Germany, Scandinavia can do no wrong. High taxes, huge social programs and they love their Muslims. Why don't you move to one of these countries? I am sure they will take you in, right? We could set up a liberal refugee program.
You can take a hint from what Mexicans have been doing for decades. It is easier to move to a place you like better then to change the country you are living it.
I don't want America to be just like Europe. In fact I would like us to be less like Europe than we are now.
It's simple, Mike. Pay into regressive tax systems like Europeans do = get more and better European-style government-funded social programs.
So what's your vote in the poll? Yes? Or No?
If we also massively strengthen unions and increase the minimum wage to ensure a far more equal distribution of income and power of course we can. But there is not a single word about that in your question, so it can be dismissed. Why is there not a word about that in your question? Because you hate it. You prefer an Alabama style system of high taxes on the poor and middle class, low taxes on the rich, no minimum wage, destroyed unions and massive income inequality. Like Alabama.
Why not? You want to just copy their NHC system to America and then expect it to work like Europe while ignoring all other aspects of their system.
Nothing is ignored about "their system" when it comes to implementing universal health care. Because its not a European thing. Every developed country has it except America. In fact, we have it as well. Its called Medicare. It works.
I post links straight from the horse's mouth. Straight from the companies which actually sell food in Germany. It doesnt get more authoritative than that.
This has actually been studied by many economists. The only way the large amount of tax revenue needed to fund social programs for all while harming the economy the least is to flatten every other kind of tax (income tax, etc.) and implement a national VAT tax:
Pay close attention to what that scatter plot chart tells us... Note that the highest levels of government benefits and services are provided by countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Belgium) in which taxes are flat (everyone pays the same tax rate) or regressive (shown as the negative values along the bottom axis, meaning a greater tax burden is placed on those with lower incomes). And note where the USA falls on the graph. The USA has the most progressive tax system and therefore is least able to fund social program "wants" like single-payer Medicare for All health care, because the tax base is too narrow and overly dependent on the top.
All interesting stuff. Now for the Million Dollar Question, which of those citizens get the most bang for their tax bucks? Compare the health coverage, social programs, education, and the such and see where they rank and where the US ranks.
That said, at the rate our government spends the revenue dollars rises in taxes are inevitable, and neither Party is going to change that any time soon.
All interesting stuff. Now for the Million Dollar Question, which of those citizens get the most bang for their tax bucks? Compare the health coverage, social programs, education, and the such and see where they rank and where the US ranks.
Exactly. Every left-winger should be voting "Yes" in this poll, or they don't really support what they think they do.
Exactly. Every left-winger should be voting "Yes" in this poll, or they don't really support what they think they do.
Only if they are ignorant about what really has built a strong middle class, fought the oligarchy and democratized the society, and that is the unions.
Only if they are ignorant about what really has built a strong middle class, fought the oligarchy and democratized the society, and that is the unions.
What really has built a strong middle class, fought the oligarchy, and democratized the society: regressive tax systems, as in Europe/Scandinavia.
I'll let an economist explain why...
Quote:
[Economist Anatole] "Kaletsky argues that over-reliance on progressives taxes creates “a perverse incentive for governments to promote income inequality. If the solvency of the state and the ability to fund basic services for the poorest people in society depends on the rich getting even richer, it is tempting for even the most progressive politicians to support widening inequalities."
What really has built a strong middle class, fought the oligarchy, and democratized the society: regressive tax systems
What baloney. It was the unions that built a strong middle class in America and the same in Europe. We didnt have regressive taxation, in fact, taxes on the rich were much higher in the 1960s than today.
Regressive taxation without very strong unions leads to Alabama and Mexico. Strong unions go hand in hand with a more equal distribution of national income and less oligarchy. When unions got crushed and taxes on the rich declined starting with Reagan onwards, inequality skyrocketed.
nothing will change until poor americans stop voting against their own interests , america is unique in how the poor constantly demand to take a bullet so the buffets of this world dont have to
Well the GOP appeals to these people through stoking racial resentments and divisive social issues (such as abortion and guns). I wish the hard core free-market people like Paul Ryan etc. would lose influence in the GOPso it could be a true right-wing populist party. The new healthcare bill is terrible.
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