Olympic Ceremony Heathcare Propaganda

[Super-Fly]

LOL.

[itsnotoutthere]

Ful marks for demonstrating that the range of left-of-centre and yes, socialist government can cover a pretty wide spectrum, and that it doesn't necessarily have to lead to everyone having to sing The Red Flag and have a picture of Comrade Lenin above the mantelshelf. That's a good refutation of the claims by some, particularly on the American Right, that Socialism will lead automatically to Communism and totalitarianism and anything else that ends in ism.

I think actually what they're afraid of is 'big government' having a greater say on where more & more of your hard earned cash is spent (wasted), something we should all fight against imo. & something that socialist governments have a deserved reputation for. Remember the little note..."sorry, there's no money left"

[Guest]

I think actually what they're afraid of is 'big government' having a greater say on where more & more of your hard earned cash is spent (wasted), something we should all fight against imo. & something that socialist governments have a deserved reputation for. Remember the little note..."sorry, there's no money left"

Overall the American Government imposes almost as much tax as many European Governments, but the citizens of America get far less Government services for their money - mainly because the military industrial complex leaches off most of that tax. When you can point to an overtly right wing government where the average standard of living and measure of happiness is higher than a typical social democratic country - you maybe able to defend the legitimacy of the Rights ideology.

It seems to me that the choice most people have is - live under a corrupt government without a social welfare safety net (America) or live in a corrupt government with a social welfare safety net (Germany, UK). When the corruption hits crisis point, as it is currently doing across the world, who will feel the pain first ?? I think you would get a good answer by asking the many thousands of American citizens who have lost everything and are now living in tent cities across the nation.

These are the realities which trump ideological posturing.

Br Cornelius

[itsnotoutthere]

Overall the American Government imposes almost as much tax as many European Governments, but the citizens of America get far less Government services for their money - mainly because the military industrial complex leaches off most of that tax. When you can point to an overtly right wing government where the average standard of living and measure of happiness is higher than a typical social democratic country - you maybe able to defend the legitimacy of the Rights ideology.

It seems to me that the choice most people have is - live under a corrupt government without a social welfare safety net (America) or live in a corrupt government with a social welfare safety net (Germany, UK). When the corruption hits crisis point, as it is currently doing across the world, who will feel the pain first ?? I think you would get a good answer by asking the many thousands of American citizens who have lost everything and are now living in tent cities across the nation.

These are the realities which trump ideological posturing.

Br Cornelius

except :-

[Guest]

Very little in it - and in the overall scheme of things the Americans pay more for basic services then the Average Brit, because they pay directly for most of their services. You have supported my point nicely

Br Cornelius

[keithisco]

except :-

Except... that your graph (offered without provenance) actually supports Br Cornelius' argument - but none of this is actually concerned with the OP.

Can I suggest that the MODs now transfer this to the correct forum under US Politics because it is far removed from any European context, and quite frankly it is boring in the extreme -

[Guest]

Let me say that my criticism of corporation has nothing to do with corruption, though undoubtedly many corporations are corrupt.

My criticism of corporations is that they have one and only one rule, to make the most profit. They have no social conscience and only care for the welfare of their employees in as far as it ensures that they continue to be productive for them. They will offload all and any costs onto society within the limits of the law.

The main advantage which is claimed for Corporations, their efficiency, has multiple negative consequences for society as a whole. Coupled to this is that successful corporations always gravitate to monopolies who indulge in price fixing and cartels.

My criticism is that they display all of the characteristics of socipaths on a large scale, and they have almost no freedom to improve their behaviour if it costs them one cent more then they currently expend. They are the most selfish organizations in the world, and as such they are bad neighbours and do not share the common interests of the majority of society.

They are fundamentally constrained to be bad by the laws under which they operate, and the fact that many operate in a corrupt law breaking way, just compounds their already terrible reputation.

Br Cornelius

Edited August 6, 2012 by Guest

[itsnotoutthere]

Very little in it - and in the overall scheme of things the Americans pay more for basic services then the Average Brit, because they pay directly for most of their services. You have supported my point nicely

Br Cornelius

Gemany 52% personal tax USA 28% personal tax........'very little in it'...... interesting interpretation.

[Guest]

Gemany 52% personal tax USA 28% personal tax........'very little in it'...... interesting interpretation.

Does that include US state taxes ? Lets not be selective - lets compare Britain to America.

Do you acknowledge that the average American pays for considerably more of his own services than the average European.

Germans consider that they get very good value for money in the taxes they pay. I know many and they would have it no other way.

Br Cornelius

[keithisco]

Gemany 52% personal tax USA 28% personal tax........'very little in it'...... interesting interpretation.

You might want to check out this site for an ACCURATE assessment of tax in Germany..

http://www.worldwide-tax.com/germany/germany_tax.asp

[questionmark]

You might want to check out this site for an ACCURATE assessment of tax in Germany..

http://www.worldwide...germany_tax.asp

yep, cause the German supreme court ruled not so long ago that it was unconstitutional to have a personal tax rate over 50%.