Tax rates in advanced economies

[nadinbrzezinski]

http://www.oecd.org/document/60/0,3343,en_2649_34533_1942460_1_1_1_1,00.html

Ok folks I want you to read this site. Yes, it is wonky but when I hear the screams about THEY ARE GONNA TAX ME for my health care to death... well how do you think OTHER countries pay for their UNIVERSAL health care? Funny Money, Moon dust? I know, Pixie Dust.

One more thing. We have Tricare Prime. We pay rates that are close to what all of you should be paying if we had single payer, national health care.

That ain't gonna happen right now... but if it did, I expect to pay more. You read right. I EXPECT TO PAY MORE... on the order of 1-2% month. And I should, it is a social contract here.

But when I hear the fantasies of sin taxes will pay for it... not even close...

So in MY ideal system, you would have a pay roll deduction of 2-4%... and that would give you a medical card, and access to ANY doctor you want to go, as a primary physician. Specialist, you get referred... of course you can get the premium, sky is the limit and should be taxed where you want to go see the specialist, no pass primary... sure... how about 50% for the right to do that...

You want a private room at a hospital when you go deliver, sure, like my brother pay 50 bucks for the privilege (Toronto Gen, 22 and 19 years ago)

But you want health care, you will have to pay for it. And you will have to pay for it one way or the other. Oh and given how Americans think that free is bad... just like Tricare I would keep a reasonable deductible unless you are low enough in the income ladder where we subsidize that.

But we are not going to get single payer, so fight for something REALISTIC withing the very German framework they are starting to build... and it took the Germans 100 years or so to perfect it... I expect the bill to suck, and suck major ass... but so did Medicare when first signed and so did Social Security.

I keep telling you... the fight has just begun and we are not even out of second inning, to use the analogy hartmann used this morning.

[DesertFlower]

1. i would gladly pay more in taxes for single payer.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Yeah but you'd be amazed how many people think

we can pay it with things like sin taxes... or are horrified.

Regardless if we get a half decent German system (yes it regulations on the private insurers, and limits on profits, a la medicare) that will be acceptable too, and you will have to pay for it as well.