Political Polarization in the American Public

[delayjf]

Liberals want to make sure everybody has health insurance coverage. Because we don't want other Americans to "lose" their lives or the lives of their loved ones because we as a nation are too greedy to help them.

You left out lots of stuff the left desires, like free college, free living income, and the unprecedented love and support of anything not heterosexual.

[NJ Stinks]

Isn't it amazing that almost every non-third world country in the world insists on a national health plan that covers everybody. Only our holier than thou brethren on the right here in the USA think they know better.

Wow are we lucky you people know whats best for all of us.

[Clocker]

Originally Posted by NJ Stinks

Isn't it amazing that almost every non-third world country in the world insists on a national health plan that covers everybody.

Wow, that is amazing! I wonder how they pay for all that free stuff without really high taxes?

[NJ Stinks]

Originally Posted by Clocker

Wow, that is amazing! I wonder how they pay for all that free stuff without really high taxes?

Oh yea, that's right. Everybody knows that there is nothing more important in life than paying less taxes.

[Clocker]

Originally Posted by NJ Stinks

Oh yea, that's right. Everybody knows that there is nothing more important in life than paying less taxes.

The Democrats passed ObamaCare without a single GOP vote in either house. Why didn't they just go ahead and pass the socialist health care system you are advocating here when they had the votes, if the left is so compassionate and puts issues like health care above issues like keeping taxes down?

Hint: the answer revolves around one little five letter word.

[JustRalph]

Originally Posted by Clocker

Wow, that is amazing! I wonder how they pay for all that free stuff without really high taxes?

Don't forget, None of them have half the people we do. They also spend nothing on defense and rely on us to protect them.

[NJ Stinks]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

Don't forget, None of them have half the people we do. They also spend nothing on defense and rely on us to protect them.

I agree that your second sentence above is a big factor.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by NJ Stinks

Isn't it amazing that almost every non-third world country in the world insists on a national health plan that covers everybody. Only our holier than thou brethren on the right here in the USA think they know better.

Wow are we lucky you people know whats best for all of us.

We are not like any non-third world country in the world. Why should we strive to be like them? I know what's best for me but apparently the libs won't be satisfied until the government is in charge of everything. If you are looking for holier than thou find a mirror.

[Clocker]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

Don't forget, None of them have half the people we do. They also spend nothing on defense and rely on us to protect them.

The people can't afford to pay for defense, they pay through the nose for the free stuff the government hands out. The tax structures in most of the EU countries are fairly similar. They pay an income tax and a payroll tax for national insurance.

"At the top end of the distribution we have Belgium where single people pay 43% of earnings in income tax and social security contributions (or national insurance), followed by Germany with 39.9%," says Maurice Nettley, head of tax statistics at the OECD. "The lowest rates are paid in Chile at 7% and Mexico at 9.5%."


These tax rates apply to single people with no children, on an average salary for their country.

• Belgium- 42.80%
• Germany - 39.90%
• Denmark - 38.90%
• Hungary- 35%
• Austria -34%
• Greece - 25.4%
• OECD Average - 25.10%
• UK - 24.90%
• USA - 22.70%

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26327114

Most countries have a VAT (value added tax) on purchases, similar to our state sales taxes. Most of the rates I have seen for the EU countries are around 5% on food and 20% on everything else.

[NJ Stinks]

Originally Posted by AndyC

We are not like any non-third world country in the world. Why should we strive to be like them? I know what's best for me but apparently the libs won't be satisfied until the government is in charge of everything. If you are looking for holier than thou find a mirror.

Do you think countries that have been around forever - like all of Europe - don't have a clue? That they haven't learned a damn thing about quality of life but conservatives here have it all figured out?

[tucker6]

Originally Posted by NJ Stinks

Do you think countries that have been around forever - like all of Europe - don't have a clue? That they haven't learned a damn thing about quality of life but conservatives here have it all figured out?

In a word, YES.

[Clocker]

None of those "older" countries in their present incarnation have been in existence for half as long as the USA. Few if any were socialist until some time after WWII.

Just curious. How long is the waiting list of US citizens wanting to emigrate to the EU?

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by NJ Stinks

Do you think countries that have been around forever - like all of Europe - don't have a clue? That they haven't learned a damn thing about quality of life but conservatives here have it all figured out?

Are you referring to all those countries that rely on us to protect them?

I have traveled to many of them and don't find myself yearning for what they have.

[barn32]

Originally Posted by AndyC

Are you referring to all those countries that rely on us to protect them?

I have traveled to many of them and don't find myself yearning for what they have.

You just haven't developed a taste for escargot.

[JustRalph]

Originally Posted by NJ Stinks

Do you think countries that have been around forever - like all of Europe - don't have a clue? That they haven't learned a damn thing about quality of life but conservatives here have it all figured out?

This is why I like debating some things with you. That's a great point. But then I see that they all live in 7-900 sq foot flats without kitchens. At least in the most populace places. Many of the countries citizens go through life never owning an automobile. There are certain joys in life that are strictly American.

I would say that maybe it's just a different taste for life. Do you think that the average Parisian would move to downtown Houston and move into an 800 sq foot apt. Without a kitchen? And walk to work every day? And live out their entire life that way? I doubt it.

I believe that very quickly they would upgrade and buy a car like those around them. Their tastes would evolve very quickly. You only know what you see and feel and you cannot miss nor long for something you've never been exposed to. Once exposed, your needs change