| TheRealMafoo said: So, there have been many arguments on these boards about healthcare. I would like to step away from the pro/cons about it for a moment, and just ask the ones who are for it a simple question. If we provided healthcare for all through the government, how should the government go about paying for it? Please expand more then "with taxes". If you can't think of a way to pay for it, please justify why you think we should buy something we can't afford. |
I'd pay for it by eliminating all tax loopholes and deductions. Straight progressive "flat" tax. In which eveyrone who makes 32,000 a year pays the same amout on taxes no matter how many cars they drive, kids they have or extended family they look after.
With the possible exception of charity work... i bet that'd come up with some big bucks for it.
If it wasn't enough i'd raise the capital gains tax. I understand why it's only like 17% but I disagree with it being different then other income.
I'd balance that by making the end of the year gain being all that counts as income vs the current system where i'm taxed in May for gains that i've since lost in december.
Really though... if your talking about the Obama plan... it's not really a "universal healthcare" package... yet.
It's a "Lets create a public insurance that people have to pay for but it will be subsidized by the rich."
I'd be surprised if it got anywhere near universal coverage... unless it was a flat rate for all, prexisting conditions will still be outpriced... and likely since it's supposed to be a pretty low level insurance plan the copays will still be too high for those with prexisitng conditions if it was flat... and the poorer middle class, and middle class who have recently lost their jobs won't want to take that on and will just risk the fines that the legislation will put in.
Though addmittingly this will probably cost us a pretty penny infrustructre wise.
