Scientific study: The Social Welfare State

[paul]

I was listening to the Thom Hartmann program today and he mentioned this interesting study on the social welfare state. The study shows nations engaged in a stronger mix of socialism in their economy faired better overall than nations with a lower ratio of socialism. The study can be found in The Scientific American.

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?cha...F183414B7F0000

[eddie]

Interesting post and dilemma Paul.

Take socialized medicine as a prime example. All of the box stores and many, many big corporations who usually support a laisez-faire economy are strongly for it. In a role of government questionnaire, it may seem contradictory. Nobody is a theocrat! They vote and lobby for how costs will effect the bottom line. In this instance, several corporations stand to benefit highly if the government picks up the tab for THEIR EMPLOYEES health insurance. The corporations pay nothing and the taxpayers are stuck with it. Currently, a household has to make $55,000+ to afford a house. With these additional taxes, that will probably be raised even higher.

[paul]

You've touched on several things it seems eddie but I what you are saying basically is the taxpayer will get screwed. Well, certainly the current US model supports that contention. Right now the very wealthy pay little comparatively. Prior to the Reagan revolution the amount the wealthy paid was significantly higher because of the rate of the progressive tax. The burden now has been shifted to wage earners in lower and middle classes.
We should either look at returning some of that progressive tax structure or a flat tax with just a few exceptions. The flat tax by the way should include income form investments. Many repubs mention liking a flat tax but they do not want a tax on income received from investments.