November 30, 2015

Sanders supporters think he is the most honest politician. Why doesn't he talk about taxes needed?

In the last debate he was asked very directly how much he would raise the marginal rate on the highest tax bracket.

He said he hadn't worked that out yet. To be this is astonishing, that he is running on a platform of raising taxes on the rich but hasn't quite worked out that part yet.

Two months to the Iowa caucus and he hasn't even bothered to nail that down?

Socialism means sharing in both the costs and benefits (free health care, free education, infrastructure, etc). He keeps point at Denmark but does he talk about the taxes there as well? Why isn't he upfront about how much taxes he needs to raise from the middle class?

November 30, 2015

what limits would you have on the free public university thing?

all countries which have free university impose limits.

many students can't even pass high school frankly.

what limits would you place on
- how long you can take to graduate
- who qualifies? is it entirely merit based? what about minority students?
- what degrees are allowed?
- are living expenses covered?
- do you cover professional and graduate degrees?
- do you have to maintain a minimum GPA during your studies?
- is there any lifetime limit to how much you can use?
- do you have to contribute back to society in any way after you graduate eg. higher taxes, public service, etc?



pipe dreams (ponies) just that until I see sensible debate on cost controls, limits, and policy objectives.

November 28, 2015

On free speech: consider if the Charlie Hebdo episode happened here. Whose fault is it?

Magazine publishes an article satirical/offensive/blasphemous to a religion. Member of said religion gets offended and shoots up the office of the magazine.

Whose fault would you say it is:
- the magazine for publishing the article, even though it was protected free speech
- the gunman
- the religion

The point about protecting speech is that especially when it is hateful or offensive to you that it needs protection most (other than a few limited exceptions e.g. incitement to violence).

Hopefully we can have a rational, fact-based analysis/discussion. Emotions tend to color one's perception of the matter at hand.

November 23, 2015

If single payer health care saves so much money, why didn't Vermont adopt it?

Just curious.

November 22, 2015

Bernie supporters could make a lot of money betting on Bernie winning the nomination

http://www.predictwise.com/politics/2016demnomination

Sanders is at 5%. If he wins the nomination, you can make 20x your money.

Just in time to donate to the general election.

November 22, 2015

Hillary has been fighting for health care reform since the early 1990s

Remember that? She was skewered and roasted by the Republicans and the health care industry, so much so that no one tried to tackle health care reform for a decade.

You may not agree with the destination but at least she tried to move the country to a better system. Even that didn't manage to pass.

Now, why in the name of * does anyone think she's in the pay of the health care industry now? Do you really think she went through that experience for fun?

I have NEVER seen any serious proposals from Bernie on where he wants to move the health care system. By serious proposal I mean policy details, transition plans, sources of funding, etc.

But just because he says "single payer healthcare" or "Medicare for all" his supporters get so excited without asking for more details.

November 21, 2015

Here's a socialistic program I'm willing to pay more taxes on: free lunches for all school children

no exceptions or stigma. Paid by the federal government without conditions on the states.

Does this make me a social darwinism or libertarian?

November 21, 2015

The US spends $3 trillion a year on health care. How much goes to health insurance companies?

Anyone want to take a wild stab at how much goes to health insurance companies in aggregate as profits (yes, profits), administrative costs, underwriting, etc?

This is the amount that would be saved by going to a single payer model (before talking about negotiating prices, which would be my next question: how much of the $3 trillion is actually spent on drug prices).

And don't forget that in a single payer model, average number of procedures per person will go up so total expenditure will increase.

November 21, 2015

How many of you support Sanders' plan to raise the payroll tax on *everybody* to fund his platform?

I've been accused of many bad things in this thread so I'm curious how many people support his plan to raise taxes on *everybody* (including you).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251834909

For context (3min45seconds)

November 21, 2015

Clinton is smart to contrast her plan to cut taxes against Sander's plan to raise taxes on the middl

e class.

As long as Sanders doesn't release his own tax plan she can keep pointing out to his comments of raising the payroll tax that would hit everybody.

By Christmas, Sanders will be known as the guy who wants to raise taxes on the middle class. That would sink his nomination chances.


Go Hillary!!!