Does the Bern stand a chance?

[Kento]

I found this graphic for average home sizes in the U.S. and other countries. There's probably some distortion because this was as of 2009, whereas I would guess the U.S. average is probably down in size since then. But still.....

View attachment 86435

Home sizes in the U.S., Canada and Australia are way larger than in Europe.

Nice. My home is 500 less square feet than the average.

 

[Billy Ocean]

I think universal healthcare will happen but it has to come alongside massive efficiency gainz

 

[Kento]

I think universal healthcare will happen but it has to come alongside massive efficiency gainz

Our whole country needs to increase in efficiency across the board.

 

[everysurfer]

Nice. My home is 500 less square feet than the average.

I can fix that for you

 

[GDaddy]

Nice. My home is 500 less square feet than the average.

People tend to make adjustments to their lifestyle choices based on their cash flow. Increase their other expenses and they'll cut back in other ways. If our taxes increase then we'll cut back. If gas and energy prices increase then we'll cut back. If health care costs increase then we'll cut back.

What we won't be able to do is to have it both ways.

 

[Kento]

I can fix that for you

Let me guess. Your old man is a television repairman and has the ultimate set of tools.

 

[rice]

But I think it's pretty obvious we could throw a bone to the working poor and maybe have some kind of public option for preventative care. Poor person making median income $36k gets two free six month checkups or some sh!t so they don't walk up to the ER with something that costs a fortune.

You think?

 

[Kento]

People tend to make adjustments to their lifestyle choices based on their cash flow. Increase their other expenses and they'll cut back in other ways. If our taxes increase then we'll cut back. If gas and energy prices increase then we'll cut back. If health care costs increase then we'll cut back.

What we won't be able to do is to have it both ways.

Theoretically but most of what I have seen people do since the 80s is just go (further?) into debt to pay for their lifestyle.

 

[grapedrink]

I think this hits the nail on the head. Even overtaxed, they seem to have a lot more discretionary income.

I don’t think they have more discretionary income, they just choose to scrimp in areas that most Americans tend to splurge and overextend. They value experiences more than a 3 car garage or a new flat screen every year.

 

[GDaddy]

Obama made a comment while he was still in office about people prioritizing their consumer spending ahead of maintaining their health care coverage and he got scorched for it.

The fine for not signing up for coverage would never have been necessary if health care coverage really was as high a priority for most people as its advocates claim.

 

[Kento]

I don’t think they have more discretionary income, they just choose to scrimp in areas that most Americans tend to splurge and overextend. They value experiences more than a 3 car garage or a new flat screen every year.

You are probably right. I absolutely value experiences and personal accomplishments than materialistic items (books are an exception). German upbringing has a lot to do with that - lebensraum is a subject for a different thread.

 

[Kento]

Obama made a comment while he was still in office about people prioritizing their consumer spending ahead of maintaining their health care coverage and he got scorched for it.

The fine for not signing up for coverage would never have been necessary if health care coverage really was as high a priority for most people as its advocates claim.

I would have quadrupled the penalty for not carrying health insurance. And that's being really nice as I hate deadbeats (how to truly punish corporate bankruptcy is also another subject for a different thread).

It's a shame he got trounced for that comment as he was exactly right.

 

[grapedrink]

If only there was factual information we can find somewhere.

View attachment 86434

I didn’t know all Euro countries had the same tax table. Thanks for learned me

 

[everysurfer]

You are probably right. I absolutely value experiences and personal accomplishments than materialistic items (books are an exception). German upbringing has a lot to do with that - lesbianism is a subject for a different thread.

I would follow that one

 

[Kento]

I would follow that one

Lesbian Lebensraum is the name of my Militant Indigo Girls Techno cover band.

 

[grapedrink]

Taxes in Sweden: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Sweden#Income_tax

“Circa 32% (ca. 11% county and 20% municipality tax which is the Swedish average): from 20,008 kronor to 468,700 kronor

• 32% + 20%: from 468,700 kronor to 675,700 kronor
• 32% + 25%: above 675,700 kronor (prior to 2020) [4]
• 
  1 dollar = ~10 kronor. With the above, someone making $100k USD/year would be taxed at an effective rate of ~45%. Not to mention how pricey everything else is because of their VAT and other taxes. No thanks
  
  
• 
  

 

[GWS_2]

I think if most working upper/middle class Americans added up their total taxes, state, federal, sales, property, etc etc etc, they would be shocked at how much they are paying out in total right now.

 

[potato-nator]

Bernie is ready to rumble.
Good thing cause here comes a brawl.

 

[potato-nator]

I think if most working upper/middle class Americans added up their total taxes, state, federal, sales, property, etc etc etc, they would be shocked at how much they are paying out in total right now.

Which is why my wife does ours.
I was shocked indeed.

 

[Kento]

I think if most working upper/middle class Americans added up their total taxes, state, federal, sales, property, etc etc etc, they would be shocked at how much they are paying out in total right now.

Another reason why I think it's ludicrous to donate money to a political campaign, especially as a private citizen. You're already giving them money - why enable/embolden them further?

Let the record show that I think it's only fair to send them tax money in a combination of Susan B. Anthony dollars, quarters, Sacajaweas, and Chuck E. Cheese tokens.