General Discussion

BelgianMadCow

(5,379 posts)

137. Hey vincardog. That's a great list. And EACH one of those is reality in Europe

Sat Oct 19, 2013, 04:39 PM

Oct 2013

Here in Belgium, one pays some 13% of tax on all income towards our social security system. That's 13%, without cap.

The financial transaction tax was agreed to by 11 EU states, Belgium being one.

Elections are publicly funded. Citizens United would be called corruption here.

I read here on DU that the healthcare we have here isn't true single payer, but "bismarckian". I have to look into that, but as far as I can tell we all pay into the system, it's government-run health CARE and it's very affordable. We do have private providers, but they are controlled by the government, which sets prices and the like.

Not saying everything is perfect here - besides, the system is under full frontal attack. Just illustrating those demands aren't far left wing - they're mainstream, but the US mainstream is now so far right that what DU considers "very left" is close to the EU center.

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The Crazy Left [View all] sabrina 1 Oct 2013 OP

This is me: Squinch Oct 2013 #1

"Crazy left" is I guess is the new label Cleita Oct 2013 #2

Lol, yes apparently it's one of the new labels. I wonder why the 'left' sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #6

But now we're a threat to DEMS TOO! Doctor_J Oct 2013 #161

So this new attack on Dems comes from the top of the party then? I wondered why it has sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #280

There are many 'NEW IDEAS' but we don't even need them nolabels Oct 2013 #199

Crazy Left Bernie Sanders Idea....Raising the Cap? bvar22 Oct 2013 #254

You are so living in the past! It's now emo-prog and firebagger. cui bono Oct 2013 #23

EmoProg is so pre-shutdown hootinholler Oct 2013 #61

It's hard to keep up with the latest ridicule! cui bono Oct 2013 #63

heaven forfend these all-but-Republicans have to actually *discuss* their villager Oct 2013 #151

Those pictorials are not examples of crazy left seveneyes Oct 2013 #3

Here, maybe this will help you see the reality of the current situation. RC Oct 2013 #58

I still say the donkey's facing the wrong way. Jackpine Radical Oct 2013 #92

Yeah, know. RC Oct 2013 #100

I love that graphic! n/t sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #117

New and improved. And still free for use. RC Oct 2013 #124

Is it your work RC? sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #139

Why, yes it is my graphic. RC Oct 2013 #219

Oh No No No! Ace Acme Oct 2013 #206

Don't think so. The political center has shifted far to the Right. RC Oct 2013 #223

Me too. 99Forever Oct 2013 #4

Crazy *FAR* Left chiming in. Fantastic Anarchist Oct 2013 #5

Over the edge, crazy lefty reporting in lark Oct 2013 #125

Most definitely! Fantastic Anarchist Oct 2013 #265

Then count me a proud member of the "crazy left." historylovr Oct 2013 #7

Nothing crazy about any of those positions. nt BluegrassStateBlues Oct 2013 #8

funny how its crazy being concerned about your own financial welfare fascisthunter Oct 2013 #9

+1 Enthusiast Oct 2013 #40

excellent point. nt tomp Oct 2013 #211

Well said. Faygo Kid Oct 2013 #10

Well, I guess that makes me a member of the 'crazy left' as well Cirque du So-What Oct 2013 #11

Well, I think we know that Democratic/Left policies are overwhelmingly sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #16

Most cogent comment I've read thus far. IrishAyes Oct 2013 #107

They called out Homeland Security for OWS, DirkGently Oct 2013 #12

+1 Enthusiast Oct 2013 #42

discourse gets gradually emptied over time: the Red Scares were *purges*, distorting the acceptable MisterP Oct 2013 #91

The Overton Window DirkGently Oct 2013 #171

To paraphrase Hunter Thompson, OnyxCollie Oct 2013 #13

I love that. Has the going gotten crazy enough yet for the Left to sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #48

It's hard to keep up with the terms and insults. NuclearDem Oct 2013 #14

centrists of the democratic variety have been dangerous to the country for longer than the tea party xchrom Oct 2013 #15

Perhaps the Tea Party was developed to make the radical agenda above look sane BuelahWitch Oct 2013 #72

That is an astute observation. zeemike Oct 2013 #123

It's been allowed to fester for that reason MannyGoldstein Oct 2013 #185

I agree. More dangerous because they got the Left to go along sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #97

How crazy am I? Hell Hath No Fury Oct 2013 #17

Those are all crazy and wonderful ideas. sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #18

+1 BluegrassStateBlues Oct 2013 #20

Yes!!! ljm2002 Oct 2013 #82

More wonderfully crazy ideas!! Thank you! Solar panels, new industry sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #101

Plant acres and acres and acres of hemp! And USE IT! SammyWinstonJack Oct 2013 #128

That is another excellent suggestion... ljm2002 Oct 2013 #130

The pukes didn't listen to the people, but neither do dem leaders on point Oct 2013 #19

Correct. Enthusiast Oct 2013 #43

Raise the Social Security tax cut off from $113,700 to $250,000 nt Fla Dem Oct 2013 #56

And add to that, an even crazier idea. Raise SS Benefits. sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #64

The Social Security tax cut off should be raised to 999 Quadrillion. Half-Century Man Oct 2013 #85

(1) Eliminate the cap. (2) Impose the SS tax on all foreign sourced income as well. AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #108

I like that idea. We should aim for the sky. Instead of what we are sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #116

Why not just elimiate it entirely? N/t Fortinbras Armstrong Oct 2013 #232

Because our Dem (Damn) Leaders are Right of Center, DLC. RC Oct 2013 #66

And here's a REALLY "Crazy Left" idea..... socialist_n_TN Oct 2013 #21

You might even be crazier than I am! sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #28

I'll call and raise you. Fla Dem Oct 2013 #46

I like that. 'No Government Contracts' added to the list. sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #53

How about corporations that outsource ANY of their production....... socialist_n_TN Oct 2013 #226

How about a national standard work week? Half-Century Man Oct 2013 #90

Absolutely. Didn't we already have that? If you worked over eight sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #94

Nope, it might be standard practice Half-Century Man Oct 2013 #181

Thanks, it made so much sense I assumed we might have had it at sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #192

Thank you for that comment. vlakitti Oct 2013 #31

You're welcome. And I agree, you can't say this enough........ socialist_n_TN Oct 2013 #227

Welcome to DU vlakitti! sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #234

Yes! PoliticalPothead Oct 2013 #179

And once again ... socialist_n_TN Oct 2013 #228

Thanks! I'll check that out. PoliticalPothead Oct 2013 #270

We're not a group that's real big on "profit"....... socialist_n_TN Oct 2013 #277

re:The Crazy Left allan01 Oct 2013 #22

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Oct 2013 #24

"Crazy" and proud! nt G_j Oct 2013 #25

We on the Crazy Left are the ones with the ideals and standards.... madfloridian Oct 2013 #26

Absolutely MF. And I consider you to be an exemplary example sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #32

DU rec... SidDithers Oct 2013 #27

Hey Sid!! sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #33

So Sid... about those enemas MannyGoldstein Oct 2013 #186

Nothing says crazy quite so much as being right, thus the label and bipartisan refusal to make Egalitarian Thug Oct 2013 #29

I would probably classify as Crazy Left. Jamastiene Oct 2013 #30

No spying on American citizens without a warrant. cui bono Oct 2013 #34

Lol, are you crazy? Those are wonderfully insane ideas!! sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #36

I am certifiable! cui bono Oct 2013 #39

Those are centrist ideas. Enthusiast Oct 2013 #45

Exactly the point of the OP. cui bono Oct 2013 #50

I love all of those ideas.... loudsue Oct 2013 #71

Yes, absolutely! cui bono Oct 2013 #79

I see you have the general gist of it. Half-Century Man Oct 2013 #93

"Corporations should pay extra taxes if the military is used for their gain." Kermitt Gribble Oct 2013 #132

Makes sense doesn't it? cui bono Oct 2013 #146

Just inserting this here: Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #35

If you believe that then you haven't read much on DU. cui bono Oct 2013 #38

I'm sorry Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #51

I'm one who has been told I was not needed or welcome in the Dem Party cui bono Oct 2013 #59

See graphic in post #58 RC Oct 2013 #67

Well, then you agree with all the crazy 'left' policies posted in this sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #78

Again? Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #83

You don't actually have any political opinions, do you? sibelian Oct 2013 #207

? Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #217

If you know it when you see it, why not explain it to the rest of us? That's all anyone is asking. sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #235

Scroll down Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #240

Hey, I didn't see you over on that other thread... ljm2002 Oct 2013 #99

Hey, Uh, no..... Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #104

Whoooooooooooooooooooosh! ljm2002 Oct 2013 #115

Thank you. I thought you were pretty clear the first time, but it never sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #118

Thanks Sabrina! n/t ljm2002 Oct 2013 #135

Oh please. Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #222

WTF? Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #120

Feel free... ljm2002 Oct 2013 #133

Thanks.... Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #140

You missed the bat signal for the Posse? The very existence of that thread makes your rhett o rick Oct 2013 #248

What is your deal, exactly? Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #250

I am a crazy lefty. I dont like to see children go hungry and without health care. Ok, now it's rhett o rick Oct 2013 #252

huh? Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #264

Then explain how you differ from the crazy left. On what specific rhett o rick Oct 2013 #267

I never called anyone Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #268

Let me remind you that it was you that dumped that strawman picture in here w/o rhett o rick Oct 2013 #271

Perhaps you agree with this guy? AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #110

Flailing about Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #141

Doesn't do much for my case? My case is that liberals should be valued, even if you don't agree. AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #147

Yeah. Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #149

Well you keep posting that but have not explained it. sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #150

Good grief. Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #153

Show? What 'show'? If you can't explain what you are trying to say sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #154

+1 Orsino Oct 2013 #168

"Maybe you don't know what Straw Man means, I suppose that IS a possibility." NealK Oct 2013 #194

Nailed it... SidDithers Oct 2013 #174

Hey Sid. How's it going? You got that Universal HC in Canada where people sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #176

They arent here to enter into intellectual discussions. It appears to me that they are here rhett o rick Oct 2013 #251

Having just gone through what our family has gone through, it is hard for me to contain the anger sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #278

And I think it is you that gives us hope. Keep fighting the good fight. We will prevail. nm rhett o rick Oct 2013 #281

I'm feeling quite left out and rejected. cui bono Oct 2013 #156

# 89 and # 119 nt LWolf Oct 2013 #148

Just inserting this also. progressoid Oct 2013 #170

lol Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #182

really? that's your statement? tomp Oct 2013 #212

Yes Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #220

sorry that i don't follow every poster every day. tomp Oct 2013 #284

So you have no point? Except that you obviously dont know what a strawman rhett o rick Oct 2013 #246

So you have no point other than Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #247

Well you can quote a definition. But can you explain why you think it's necessary rhett o rick Oct 2013 #253

I'll bother Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #255

I dont like people that spew hatred for the left. It's damaging to our Party. nm rhett o rick Oct 2013 #257

Except. Bobbie Jo Oct 2013 #258

Kicked and Recommended! Enthusiast Oct 2013 #37

Thanks for reminding me of another issue, the secret trade deal. sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #41

Yes! TPP! cui bono Oct 2013 #52

Yes! TPP! cui bono Oct 2013 #54

So so so with you! Me, too! loudsue Oct 2013 #44

Crazy is much more fun than "Professional"... SomethingFishy Oct 2013 #47

I admit it. pa28 Oct 2013 #49

Thanks for mentioning the Drone issue. I remember when it sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #62

Lots of moral flexibility within the party lately on the whole collateral murder issue. pa28 Oct 2013 #196

Real Crazy left are the leftist Anarchists ErikJ Oct 2013 #55

Secret NSA Spying concerns me....I'm a Crazy Left! KoKo Oct 2013 #57

But, haven't you been told? 'If you have nothing to hide, you have sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #138

Even my panties have my trademark lunatic fringe. Zorra Oct 2013 #60

That is a fantastic post, Zorra. It really deserves its own thread. n/t sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #256

Checking in Present and Accounted for! swilton Oct 2013 #65

HUGE K & R !!! - Present !!! WillyT Oct 2013 #68

I am the crazy left! K and R! NRaleighLiberal Oct 2013 #69

Once there was a crazy left kydo Oct 2013 #70

Treat drug abuse as a medical problem not a criminal justice problem. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #73

Absolutely, and END the so-called Drug War! sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #121

Checking in Sabrina, a proud member in good standing here and I'm not willing to to be fooled louslobbs Oct 2013 #74

Lou!! I knew you were part of the Crazy Left for some reason!! sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #122

The right to food clothing shelter and healthcare for all people. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #75

You have such crazy ideas! sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #157

Another proud member of the Crazy Left BuelahWitch Oct 2013 #76

Another crazy leftist here. TexasTowelie Oct 2013 #77

Downsize our military by withdrawing from all foreign bases. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #80

Student loan debt forgiveness. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #81

Crazy left here, equality and opportunity for everyone! Bluenorthwest Oct 2013 #84

I Did Not Much Like That Post Myself, Ma'am The Magistrate Oct 2013 #86

Excellent analysis, Magistrate, stated far better than my poor attempt. sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #126

Proud to be called the a far left raging liberal..... bowens43 Oct 2013 #87

Here are my ideas: ljm2002 Oct 2013 #88

If you want to self-identify as crazy left... ConservativeDemocrat Oct 2013 #89

I rarely ever do this, but it's PrincipLEs, not PrincipALs. sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #113

Crap. You're right. ConservativeDemocrat Oct 2013 #166

While I don't consider myself any kind of conservative, IrishAyes Oct 2013 #119

Well, this IS a Democratic Forum. Naturally people expect to see Democratic Policies and principles sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #236

I could hear you (and others) a lot better if you quit screeching in my ear - IrishAyes Oct 2013 #241

Well, that was a nice rant, filled with personal attacks against ME. I would have preferred to sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #262

Your constant trashing of Democrats is not a "Democratic Principle"... ConservativeDemocrat Oct 2013 #242

Well, there you go again, as someone once said. Posting a comment filled with personal attacks sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #244

I am a Moderate-Liberal. Every test and personality measure that I respond to confirm what bluestate10 Oct 2013 #249

How do you define 'far left'? Was FDR 'far left' with his social programs and concerns for the sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #259

Amen to that! IrishAyes Oct 2013 #263

Please be specific. Give examples where the "far" left makes you go cold. Is it their insistance rhett o rick Oct 2013 #272

And you get 'crickets'. This is what needs to be emphasized and challenged over and over again. sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #279

And if you want to identify with the conservatives, so be it. I just wonder how you pass the rhett o rick Oct 2013 #273

Thanks for sharing those strawmen arguments. PoliticalPothead Oct 2013 #276

I am a commie, can't get crazier than that. :) idwiyo Oct 2013 #95

part of the grave damage caused by the radical right who dominate the U.S. House of Representatives Douglas Carpenter Oct 2013 #96

So far the crazy left is hanging with the truth Rex Oct 2013 #98

Checking In... 2naSalit Oct 2013 #102

Put me down as a proud member of the Crazy Left LongTomH Oct 2013 #103

Real lunatics, those Crazy Leftists.... democrank Oct 2013 #105

Proud member of the "crazy left" (n/t) a2liberal Oct 2013 #106

Same here. If you are left of center-right LittleBlue Oct 2013 #109

rec! SammyWinstonJack Oct 2013 #111

K&R AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #112

The crazy left is like grass: DeSwiss Oct 2013 #114

Well spotted Sabrina! BelgianMadCow Oct 2013 #127

Yes, they are afraid that the Left ideas, more popular across the board sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #134

'Crazy Left' ideas here: 1�eliminate the Cap on SS income. 2 A financial transactions tax 3 Public Vincardog Oct 2013 #129

Funding of all Federal Elections! Yes, how could I have forgotten one of sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #131

Hey vincardog. That's a great list. And EACH one of those is reality in Europe BelgianMadCow Oct 2013 #137

Thanks for demonstrating that what is called 'crazy' here, among other sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #143

about attacks on social security in Europe BelgianMadCow Oct 2013 #145

What has happened in Greece should be a warning to the rest of the world. I'm not surprised by sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #237

K&R Solly Mack Oct 2013 #136

If hands off Social Security is a crazy left idea stage left Oct 2013 #142

Welcome to DU, stage left. I love ALL of your crazy ideas sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #144

Thanks, Sabrina stage left Oct 2013 #158

You really ARE crazy! Repeal the Patriot Act!! I remember when that sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #191

Are you sure you want to read all of my Crazy Left ideas? LWolf Oct 2013 #152

There isn't anything on there that could be considered crazy by any sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #155

That's what we wanted. LWolf Oct 2013 #163

I like all of those LWolf stage left Oct 2013 #165

I signed up here in 2005 thinking I was a moderate. Starry Messenger Oct 2013 #159

Crazy Left.... blackspade Oct 2013 #160

Question: When is the last time a "crazy leftist" was in a position of ANY power in this country? Doctor_J Oct 2013 #162

We should drastically cut the number of people on welfare/food stamps Nevernose Oct 2013 #164

Wasn't "Crazy Left" a Van Morrison song? Ken Burch Oct 2013 #167

Crazy left: no war on Syria (great outcome). CL: don't back down on debt ceiling (great outcome), grahamhgreen Oct 2013 #169

Proud Member For Some Time colsohlibgal Oct 2013 #172

K&R laundry_queen Oct 2013 #173

I've always been a member stupidicus Oct 2013 #175

I'm not Crunk, but I may be "Creft". n/t Alkene Oct 2013 #177

It's NOT the CRAZY left or EMO prog, it's the... reACTIONary Oct 2013 #178

Ya know... we leftys are starting to get some cred MannyGoldstein Oct 2013 #180

Lol! Where are we Manny? Are the 'laughiing at us', 'ignoring us', no, they sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #189

Attack MannyGoldstein Oct 2013 #193

In the spirit of Halloween... Howling Left here. WorseBeforeBetter Oct 2013 #183

Never ignored Iliyah Oct 2013 #184

Yes, 'vote', for Progressive Dems, like Bernie Sanders. Alan Grayson! sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #190

I join you in being Proud to be a Crazy Left liberal. joanbarnes Oct 2013 #187

I'm so left, I'm a socialist tavalon Oct 2013 #188

If this is a reaction to my other thread... Silent3 Oct 2013 #195

"That there's simply no possibility of going too far in a leftward political direction"... YoungDemCA Oct 2013 #197

Look at the progress of equal marriage rights Silent3 Oct 2013 #200

It's not unusual for Neoliberals to take a left position on social issues. Skeeter Barnes Oct 2013 #202

*snap* Yes, that is totally the Third Way MO. nt Zorra Oct 2013 #218

On social issues, neoliberalism is akin to libertarianism Luminous Animal Oct 2013 #229

Yes, that's probably a better way of putting it. Didn't really think of that. Skeeter Barnes Oct 2013 #238

No I don't have you pegged. I don't know you. And no, this wasn't just a reaction to your OP sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #269

K&R. There is no Left in American politics right now, of any significance... YoungDemCA Oct 2013 #198

Yes stage left Oct 2013 #221

You too, huh? Scootaloo Oct 2013 #201

I think a lot of the people here that might get pegged as leftist are really centrists. Skeeter Barnes Oct 2013 #203

Recced. Oakenshield Oct 2013 #204

imagine questionseverything Oct 2013 #261

Me too. And how. tblue Oct 2013 #205

I'm another one DissidentVoice Oct 2013 #208

Another proud member here. nt DLevine Oct 2013 #209

Accept my apologies if some of you crazy lefties already said this.... mdbl Oct 2013 #210

All excellent crazy leftie ideas. Welcome to DU, mdbl! sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #245

Those who benefit the most from this society ... Laelth Oct 2013 #213

K&R PADemD Oct 2013 #214

Sedition. Treason. Elected officials. Chico Man Oct 2013 #215

Even this guy - TBF Oct 2013 #216

It's like some rightie asking who is the Ted Cruz on the left side. librechik Oct 2013 #224

Harry Reid has the most power of anyone on "the left" at the moment. comparing him to the likes of Erose999 Oct 2013 #225

Now WE'RE the Law and Order party. LiberalEsto Oct 2013 #230

Late, but a proud member. N_E_1 for Tennis Oct 2013 #231

I'm one as well Fortinbras Armstrong Oct 2013 #233

Excellent comment, thank you! sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #266

Whew ...I thought I was the only one. L0oniX Oct 2013 #239

I've been known as a Crazy Lefty since the 70's. Called a few other things, besides. ancianita Oct 2013 #243

270th rec with a kick (to the tuckus) of the Blue Dog Triangulators who want 2 RW parties in America leveymg Oct 2013 #260

Proud 'crazy' lefty checking in. myrna minx Oct 2013 #274

I've been disparagingly called... malokvale77 Oct 2013 #275

You know what?? I think we are in the MAJORITY! sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #282

Hey Sabrina BelgianMadCow Oct 2013 #283

You could be right about about the "GRASS ROOTS" malokvale77 Oct 2013 #285