Europe / US Debt Issues

[Thomas Beyer]

[quote user=housingrental]Or should the role of the state be to allow for greater equality of opportunity regardless of family wealth?


Life is tough - Get used to it ! (TM)



There should be some role of the state, of course .. BUT LIMITED !



Those with gifts (be they mental or physical or relational or spiritual) will get appropriate extra funding or bursaries ! For example, if your grades are above X or if you pass an exam you can proceed to grade 10 .. otherwise not or not for free !



That is the case TODAY for most universities. I am just saying the line on education, as an example, has to be drawn earlier, say after grade 8.



The state cannot help all people all the time for all reasons in any circumstances. There have to be limits. These have to be discussed. They are too broad today as the state's coffers are empty !!



I want a free helicopter license !! Why does the state not give me one ?

I also would prefer a fancier condo. Why does the state not give me one, too ?

I also think every person deserves a BMW .. or better: 3.

Free trips to Maui too !



Why are physio treatments or new eyeglasses teeth replacements or most drugs not for free today .. but other healthcare is ? The line ALREADY EXISTS in healthcare. It is already two-tiered.



Where is the line, Adam ??



I outlined some (20) above. I expect others do differ, of course. The debate should happen in earnest before we look like Greece in a decade or 2 !!



.. the phone just rang .. the government called and apologized that I had to wait so long for my free BMW .. so unfair they said .. but here it is .. off to pick it up now !!

 

[stezam]

Hi Thomas,

You have some good points here. Here are a few alternatives:


A) Allow private schools to compete for tax dollars or offer substantial tax credits to parents who choose to send their kids to private schools. Basically come up with some market driven mechanism that forces schools to compete for students. Let the unions show us that their model is the only one that can deliver.


F) Abolish the progressive tax system outright. In addition to our enshrined freedoms, implement constitutional constraints on government that say, `government shall pass no law that discriminates against one`s level of income or ability." As long we accept the notion that government can fix disparity, then freedom is in jeopardy. Politicians will use rhetoric to turn constituency group against constituency group. Once you convince enough people that their interests are best served in taking money from other people, prosperity is in danger.


One other constitutional restraint, limit the size of government to 25% of GDP. Fed. 17%, Provincial 6%, municipal 2%. Make 2/3 majority necessary for times of crisis but have a sunset clause of 3 years built into the constitution.


P & T) Accepting this premise opens the door for the government to get involved in all kinds of perceived problems, i.e. global warming. Get rid of taxes that are meant to alter our behavior.


One last thing: to me equality of opportunity means equality before the law. The government choosing winners and losers goes against that notion.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

It's only since I became owner of an apt building that I came to fully realise how much politicans can only be trusted to promise whatever they think will get them re-elected, and then figure out how to make someone else pay for it. I listen to provincial gov'ts of all stripes talking about how they work for the poor and low income yet forces them to pay proportionately far higher property taxes than the single family owner next door. How? By forcing the offload of services to municipalities that they can't pay for. The municipality then raises revenue in the most politically easy way, which is to raise taxes on industry and commercial properties, esp multi-family. No one has sympathy for landlords owning large buildings complaining about taxes. So the low income folks end up paying more rent to pay for services they typically use less and get less benefit from than their neighbours.



The time has come where those promises have built too high a debt load in much of the world. Its going to be painful for many many people as that debt load is whittled down. Most of them will never understand the forces against them - and politicians will play to that too.

 

[Hutchym]

A great start would be a two tier, completly seperate public - private health care system. The key would be to create a mandatory public service requirement. Health proffessionals (specifically specialists) must complete a minimum amount of work (hours/patients) in the public system first. Time they are off they may work at a private clinic (overtime) and charge what people are willing to pay. These proffessionals of course wouldn't be able to work privately without keeping there provincial liscense which would have the requirement of public service. Our baby boomers are coming and its time to do something now as our healthcare system eats so much of our money as it is. Lets be honest for a moment. Michigan has an amazing cancer treatment hospital that many Canadians are using already. Many of these baby boomers, when faced with death, will pay the money in Michigan. This takes money out of the economy here and rewards Doctors in Michigan.