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There were big headlines this a.m., Chicken, that the Big O had managed to get military expenditures reduced significantly. It’s my opinion (hope) that so far he’s setting up his ducks & he has a big picture of how all his programs will mesh. Most of the hassle now is recalcitrant Republicans – polls show most citizens want the public option he’s been pushing & definitely a majority thinks healthcare is of paramount importance.
chicken- we wouldn’t need to increase taxes by 10%, i think you know that– already today, a good chunk of tax money goes to healthcare, and we pay out-of-pocket, AND, employers pay about 20% on top of wages for healthcare. SO, done and done.
Chicken- with the enormous amount of waste in this country (pork barrel legislation, bridges to nowhere, accepting lowball offers for premium real estate air rights, over paid and overbenefitted politicians), seems to me we shouldn’t have to make a choice. The past administration used that choice as a scare tactic for everything. Cut some expense accounts in Congress- that should free up billions. (full disclaimer- yes- hyperbole)
National insurance is levied at 10% on the employee and 10% on the employers (there is an upper limit though). Some of that is for the state pension so let’s call it 10-15%, say 10% for the employee and 5% for the employer.
I would expect people to be up in arms about increasing tax rate by 10% so there would need to be cuts in other spending to accomodate – military spending would probably be the most obvious one. How do people feel about that? Fewer guns to defend you but more doctors to save you?
Cobble and I both know those circumstances all too well.
I don’t say that there aren’t people who do nothing to improve their lot in life, but assumption shouldn’t be that this country is filed with uncaring masses of lazy-good-for-nothings only wanting to suck at the gov’t teat. If that were the case, this country would never have achieved what it has.
But a country that has little care or compassion for all of its citizens, isn’t going to be the ain’t democracy grand poster child for the world either.
If history has shown us anything, its that no country can survive without concern for all its citizens. We like to think we are more enlightened today, we are more concerned with human rights- if that means making sure we have a safety net in place, so be it. Because life without one is frightening indeed. Believe me, I know. So does Arkady, and cobble and snappy-and many more.
There were big headlines this a.m., Chicken, that the Big O had managed to get military expenditures reduced significantly. It’s my opinion (hope) that so far he’s setting up his ducks & he has a big picture of how all his programs will mesh. Most of the hassle now is recalcitrant Republicans – polls show most citizens want the public option he’s been pushing & definitely a majority thinks healthcare is of paramount importance.
chicken- we wouldn’t need to increase taxes by 10%, i think you know that– already today, a good chunk of tax money goes to healthcare, and we pay out-of-pocket, AND, employers pay about 20% on top of wages for healthcare. SO, done and done.
Chicken- with the enormous amount of waste in this country (pork barrel legislation, bridges to nowhere, accepting lowball offers for premium real estate air rights, over paid and overbenefitted politicians), seems to me we shouldn’t have to make a choice. The past administration used that choice as a scare tactic for everything. Cut some expense accounts in Congress- that should free up billions. (full disclaimer- yes- hyperbole)
‘””you don’t care about that, don’t you?”. ”
CMU, you’re being disingenuous. Thats not a question, its an accusation.”
Well, we non-American-born folk would consider that sound debating technique; I realize we’re a little more thin-skinned in these parts, sorry.
Do cats count, chicken? In that case I have too many 🙂
I live alone- and I love it. A huge premium, and worth it- as DH says. For me it is a quality of life issue.
Arkady, that was the reason for my question.
National insurance is levied at 10% on the employee and 10% on the employers (there is an upper limit though). Some of that is for the state pension so let’s call it 10-15%, say 10% for the employee and 5% for the employer.
I would expect people to be up in arms about increasing tax rate by 10% so there would need to be cuts in other spending to accomodate – military spending would probably be the most obvious one. How do people feel about that? Fewer guns to defend you but more doctors to save you?
Cobble and I both know those circumstances all too well.
I don’t say that there aren’t people who do nothing to improve their lot in life, but assumption shouldn’t be that this country is filed with uncaring masses of lazy-good-for-nothings only wanting to suck at the gov’t teat. If that were the case, this country would never have achieved what it has.
But a country that has little care or compassion for all of its citizens, isn’t going to be the ain’t democracy grand poster child for the world either.
If history has shown us anything, its that no country can survive without concern for all its citizens. We like to think we are more enlightened today, we are more concerned with human rights- if that means making sure we have a safety net in place, so be it. Because life without one is frightening indeed. Believe me, I know. So does Arkady, and cobble and snappy-and many more.
“A COTD post made me think. What proportion of the renters here have housemates (excluding significant other and children)?”
I would imagine alot – huge premium paid for living alone. I do.
I think so, Chicken, but obviously others don’t.