We're the richest damn country in the world

[The Big Al]

That's right, the United States is the richest country on the face of this Earth. Yet we can't provide basic services to our citizens. In Cuba some person living in a box could break their arm and walk into a hospital knowing they'll get the best care available and yet a homeowner here in America can break their arm and have their lives destroyed by the expense of simply walking into the emergancy room.

Why is it countries much poorer than us can afford to provide services to their citizens we can't? We have the money to bring every school in America to the standards of the best. We have the resources to provide the best emergancy room service to every American for free. So why don't we?

Disscuss

 

[Mozz]

I'm not fond of the fact that the poor can get better care than the middle class, simply by not being able to afford it.

 

[The Big Al]

Which is why high quality health care should be free to EVERYONE, the poor, middle class, and the wealthy. And it would be paid for through (I know you'll this but) taxes.

We need to
1. Streamline the government to reduce the amount of money wasted in the process. That would open a lot of funding for such things as universal emergancy health care.
2. Eliminate tax loopholes some companies and individuals use to avoid paying taxes on their revenues.
3. Remove Bush's massive tax cut in his first year over the span of about five years.

Then what is left after reducing the debt could go into funding improving the schools and making Emergancy Room Service free for anyone and everyone. Obiviously the doctors would have to make the call of whether or not someone should be admitted. However, if most countries in this world can see to the educational and health needs of all it's people, why can't the US.

 

[Jukain]

I don't see why we don't do it, either. I guess we really are that greedy. Also, I don't think the US is the richest country in the world, although we do have a lot of money to throw around.

 

[QuietDragon]

Maybe because it is so big and rich that it's greedy? Dunno.

 

[Mozz]

Let's start with a 50% marginal tax rate, give everyone free health care, and make it nearly impossible to fire people.

 

[Fig]

God forbid that employees would have a fair chance at life rather than being at the mercy of the most unreasonable whims of their employers.

(That said, the "old" system in France - the one they tried to replace - does go too far in defending employees)

 

[The Big Al]

Let's start with a 50% marginal tax rate,
give everyone free health care, and make it nearly impossible to fire people.

Actually if you think about it, all of our expenses are "taxes" just to private companies instead of the government. And if my money goes to high quality roads, all children having access to the highest standard of education, everyone having access to the highest standard of healthcare, a modern and efficent infastructure, and I and my rights as a citizen are well protected then I would consider it a good investment. However, 50% marginal is a little excessive and before we even think of any of the above mentioned, something has to be done to reduce government waste which would lead to more and better services provided by the government for less tax money. Even you Mozz could that as win-win. The government is there to provide services on a national level and I think emergancy health care should be one of them.

As for firing people. I think there should a merit/demerit system. If an employee is cronically late to work, leaves early, slacks off, wastes company money and is basically not worth keeping around than they should be fired. However, if they're hard working, dedicated, punctual, and efficent, they should have tenior. But that's just me.

btw: How did you turn your username gold?

 

[Mozz]

Custom Usergroup >D

I've had this argument with Damian about 3,532 times, I dunno, though

 

[Pie]

Also, I don't think the US is the richest country in the world, although we do have a lot of money to throw around.

Statistically, the nation the richest by a long shot. I think the only reason why that's not abundantly clear is because the majority of that money is pooled up in... ah, was it the government or big businesses? I guess I should go dig up the statistics themselves...

 

[The Big Al]

Custom Use Group: Population 1, Mozz.

I'd vote for big businesses since the government is up to its armpits in debt.

EDIT: You know Mozz, you and even I can look at the economy from a different perspective than most. You're an economist and I'm a meteorologist. We've basically got instant job security because everyone will want to know what the economy is doing and what the weather will be like. So we really don't have to care what happens to the middle class. I care because I was raised in the middle class and hold loyalties to it. What kind of upbringing did you have?

 

[Mozz]

Both of my parents are high school teachers, with no old money behind us.

 

[The Big Al]

You can't out source teachers. :/

Back on topic. I think what we really need is more of the money circulating through ecnomy. And that includes the money going through the government. Tax money doesn't just disappear. It goes to fixing our roads, educating our youth other government duties and the people who work at those duties are paid with our tax money and take that money to puts it into the economy. Who knows, the money you pay as taxes could come right back to you when your services are paid for by a teacher or a highway worker.

 

[Mozz]

I disagree.

:bows out:

 

[The Big Al]

I disagree.

Care to explain?

EDIT: Wait, are you talking about teachers or tax money returning to the economy?

 

[Dagoth Ur]

The USA (and the Gilded Wang of Justice) has the irrational idea that providing any sort of public good is akin to communism.
Americans apparently also don't believe that health is a natural right, though many believe life, no matter how much it can suck for sick people, is an obligation.

 

[Mozz]

Care to explain?

EDIT: Wait, are you talking about teachers or tax money returning to the economy?

Tax money, of course ^_^;;

Sorry it wasn't more clear.

 

[The Big Al]

Brilliant, now why do you disagree with my explaination that government workers put tax dollars back into the economy?

 

[Mozz]

y am is my avatar a ujsoki?/

 

[ChaosRocket]

Brilliant, now why do you disagree with my explaination that government workers put tax dollars back into the economy?

Don't bother asking, trust me. He has no reasons.