Higher capital gaines taxes would kill me. I am no where near rich. My family and I live hand to mouth, but we are debt free and have the ability to save a good portion of our income each month. I have a portfolio that I spend a lot of time managing, that is probably the envy of any other 25 year old who knows a dollar from a donut. Right now I intend to use this money in the short term to put about a 40% down payment on a house. If capital gaines taxes were raised it would kill that plan. What differance does it make how someone earns their money. It is THEIR money, and they put it at risk in the market to fuel our economy. Why should they not reap the rewards. It is a silly thing to say that someone who makes their living off of sound investments isn't earning their money. Income effects the pocket the same way no matter how it comes in. All income should be taxed the same. Here I agree. A NRST would be a terrible blow to the poor. I have always thought the flat tax was the best way to go. Everyone pays a set portion of total income, no more deductions, no more exemptions, no more tax shelters. All income that is not tax deferred through a retirement vehicle to be taxed later is taxed at a set percentage.
So basically, the government will now subsidize the cost of private insurance so the insurance companies can still make huge profits? Hell, if we're gonna do this, and it looks like we will, I'd rather cut out the insurance companies and let the payments go directly to the health care provider. It makes no sense to allow insurance companies to continue to make profits off of subsidized health care. That would be the equivalent of the government giving consumers rebates for gasoline while oil companies continue to make huge profits.
I'll buy that. I presume the reason is to demonstrate that it is NOT socialized medicine. By involving the insurance companies they get their support and the support of the business-first republicans. It worked that way with the medicare supplemental insurance, too. Because the insurance companies want their vigorish, the ultimate cost to the citizen is higher than it should be. I agree with you and I'd cut them out too.
Red, please quit denying that you are a liberal. Here's the deal. It's all about me. I don't give a damn who has food on the table or health insurance or whatever. I worked for 35 years, I saved my money and I stayed with the same company long enough to earn my benefits. All along the way, I have paid enough in taxes to fund 1000 bus trips to Jena. Now that it's my time to cash in, I do not want a larger than necessary portion of MY money going into a pot to help everybody in America share the wealth. If the "idle rich" benefit from conservative politics, then so be it. They weren't idle their whole lives and that's why they are rich. And don't bother spouting off your Moderate Manifesto in reply, because, frankly, I don't give a damn.
That's all you need to say, we knew it already. Why do you even bother to join these discussions? Why should we give a damn about you? You said it -- all you care about is yourself and your opinion, no matter how trite, selfish, misguided, looney, and wrong it may be. Not only that, but anyone who disagrees with you must be vilified, painted with a brush of your own choosing, and admonished not to respond. Not a chance. Bring it on, if you can leave out the pointless invective and make comments on the topic. Otherwise, I simply don't give a damn. Just sit in your room and count your money. Why should you care about what's good for the country? It's all about you. Did you even read my post? Insurance for the poor may cost us less than charity hospitals for the poor. Insurance men are going to make money on this. Doesn't that interest you?
Yes, I read your post and I don't agree with any of it. You can't get beyond the fact that the rich get richer and that drives your politics. You think that the government is somehow responsible for picking people up and taking care of them. When I say I only care about me, it's in the sense that I do not look for anyone but myself to take care of me and my family's needs. It's hard enough to stretch what I have earned without some damn socialistic bitch deciding that I need to spread what I have around for the common good. F**k the common good. As far as Hillary's health care dreams. Forget it. Ask any Canadian how that's working out. EDIT: I work for AIG, the biggest GD Insurance Company in the world, so I don't really have a problem with their stock prices going up.
Ah Canada, who boasts one of the highest life expectancies (about 80 years) and lowest infant morality rates of the industrialized countries. Not that you would care about the US being as healthy as friggin' Canada. Canada does have true socialized medicine with public health clinics for everybody. The US plan, in contrast, provides a way for everybody to use health insurance to obtain care in private medical facilities in the free market system we use in America. Nothing socialist about it. In fact, it is greatly similar to the Medicare Supplemental Insurance plan put forward by your hero, George Bush! Which you support, I presume.
Once again, Red. I didn't take people to raise. If they want to be healthy, they should know what to do. Not my problem. I long ago determined that I would not be dependent on Medicare in any form. You see? I took it upon myself to ensure that I will have sufficient medical insurance to take me into my declining years (which have apparently begun based upon how hard it is to pick up a pecan off the driveway). If I had to depend on the government to take care of me, I'd kill myself. No matter what happens to me whether death, disability or whatever, me and my family will have the resources to live comfortably. Why? Because I didn't depend on every President from JFK on down to make certain that I would have a pot to piss in. Sorry to offend your liberal sensibilities, but that's just the way it is.
Getting back to the topic, did anyone watch the debate last night? If not, you didn't miss anything. Here were the candidates answer to almost every question: Boasso: we need to work together. Campbell: get rid of personal income tax and tax oil. Georges: I'm a businessman and Jindal sucks. Jindal: I have a plan. What a waste of an hour of my time.
