Jindal: Eliminate income and corporate taxes

[MichiGator2002]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

Hey, don't tell me, tell your 'comrade.'

BTW, we're about the 15th best country in the world in the latest rankings (and falling). We're also the fattest.

Am I the only one who doesn't take it for granted that the criteria for world rankings in anything are valid? Like shab's excitement about us being "38th" in healthcare. Well, if the ranking is premised on being able to put the most of one's citizens in an interminably long line for what most Americans would consider routine discretionary services, who would want to be #1?

[corpgator]

We're 34th, not 1st as the poster claimed, in infant mortality rate. There's no way to spin that since unlike healthcare as a whole, it is perfectly quantifiable. CIA World Factbook, you know by our own government, actually places us 50th.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...mortality_rate

Oh, we're also 38th in life expectancy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ife_expectancy

So go ahead and claim we're #1 in healthcare because we have the best services. When only a portion of our population is actually receiving them, then that seems to tell me that as a whole, we're not doing so well.

[Dreamliner]

Originally Posted by corpgator

We're 34th, not 1st as the poster claimed, in infant mortality rate. There's no way to spin that since unlike healthcare as a whole, it is perfectly quantifiable. CIA World Factbook, you know by our own government, actually places us 50th.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...mortality_rate

Oh, we're also 38th in life expectancy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ife_expectancy

So go ahead and claim we're #1 in healthcare because we have the best services. When only a portion of our population is actually receiving them, then that seems to tell me that as a whole, we're not doing so well.

Yeah, I thought that sounded fishy, like something a nationalist zealot would say.

[trekcid]

A sales tax is the way to get revenue from the businesses that avoid paying any taxes,
Drug money, Black market trade, etc. Every one laughed at Herman Cain for his 9-9-9.
But if you truly analyze his plan it was not as dumb as the media made you believe.
9 percent sales tax,9 personal income tax,capital gains and dividends and a 9 percent corporate tax. rebate the poor for their sales tax portion. simple. Every one should have some skin in the game. some more than others. All corporate taxes are passed down to the consumer one way or another.

[candymanfromgc]

Funny how that any tax the so called poor have to pay are regressive. Doesn't seem to stop them from buying beer, cigarettes, lotto, having a cell phone and getting tats. Spend 30 minutes at a kangaroo store-you will be amazed at what the poor spend money on.

[Dreamliner]

Originally Posted by MichiGator2002

Am I the only one who doesn't take it for granted that the criteria for world rankings in anything are valid? Like shab's excitement about us being "38th" in healthcare. Well, if the ranking is premised on being able to put the most of one's citizens in an interminably long line for what most Americans would consider routine discretionary services, who would want to be #1?

No, I don't place a lot of stock in these various 'quality-of-life' rankings. But I do think it should be noted that neither does much of the world place stock in American Exceptionalism arguments.

[gator10010]

This plan increases consumer purchasing power and encourages saving.

To those that are concerned about the poor, what better way can we help the poor than by giving them more money and encouraging the poor to save money?

Because , for the most part, government programs are not working.

[mastoidbone]

In most European nations---Sales tax (VAT) provides far more revenue then income tax. Far better to tax consumption then income--more stable income to govt and less penalty for doing what we want people to do---WORK.

[ATLitigator]

Originally Posted by mastoidbone

In most European nations---Sales tax (VAT) provides far more revenue then income tax. Far better to tax consumption then income--more stable income to govt and less penalty for doing what we want people to do---WORK.

.....should be post of the year, decade, century even

[philnotfil]

nytimes.com

Researchers have known for some time that the United States fares poorly in comparison with other rich countries, a trend established in the 1980s. But most studies have focused on older ages, when the majority of people die.

The findings were stark. Deaths before age 50 accounted for about two-thirds of the difference in life expectancy between males in the United States and their counterparts in 16 other developed countries, and about one-third of the difference for females. The countries in the analysis included Canada, Japan, Australia, France, Germany and Spain.

The panel called the pattern of higher rates of disease and shorter lives “the U.S. health disadvantage,” and said it was responsible for dragging the country to the bottom in terms of life expectancy over the past 30 years. American men ranked last in life expectancy among the 17 countries in the study, and American women ranked second to last.

Panelists were surprised at just how consistently Americans ended up at the bottom of the rankings. The United States had the second-highest death rate from the most common form of heart disease, the kind that causes heart attacks, and the second-highest death rate from lung disease, a legacy of high smoking rates in past decades. American adults also have the highest diabetes rates.

[GatorRade]

Originally Posted by fredsanford

We are far from the best in healthcare. 38th, I believe.

I think you might be thinking of the per dollar values. We spend the most. By far. We spend on healthcare like crazy, but we only seem to get a minimal bump of effectiveness. But we do have that bump. If you need a major operation, the one place you want to be in the entire world is the US. Trust me.

[Dreamliner]

Originally Posted by mastoidbone

In most European nations---Sales tax (VAT) provides far more revenue then income tax. Far better to tax consumption then income--more stable income to govt and less penalty for doing what we want people to do---WORK.

Is Europe more conservative than we are ?

[GatorRade]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

You sound like one of those "Love it or leave it!" types.

You should know me by now, Dream. I am most certainly not a love it or leave it type. What I abhor is lack of perspective. Everyday we have people on here saying this is the "worst" or "most socialist" or "most violent" or "least respectful" era in the history of the world. It's like these people have only been awake for 20 minutes. For basically everyone of these statements, we need only go back a few years to falsify them. This "we are about to hit the bottom" stuff is no different. You and I are so much wealthier than the richest Americans of 100 years ago, and it isn't even close.

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

BTW, we're about the 15th best country in the world in the latest rankings (and falling).

For someone that believes that almost all scientific theory is religion, I am bit flabbergasted that you would just accept some arbitrary rating of a subjective criteria like "best". But regardless, your point was that we were almost at the bottom, so even if we accept this ludicrous rating scheme, 15/196 is pretty damn good. By the way, the top countries on these lists are usually Scandinavian. Somehow I doubt that you are going to go bat for their governance.

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

But we are the fattest!

Agreed.

[GatorRade]

Originally Posted by philnotfil

nytimes.com

Thanks Phil. Similar to your points, Scott Atlas recently compile data and found that US longevity rises to the top by a relatively large margin once you remove suicides and instant deaths from car crashes. I think most of us don't think these two should be included in health care rankings. He argues that we also count our infant mortality differently than most European nations, so we include a lot more 0's in our average life span.

[Dreamliner]

Originally Posted by GatorRade

You should know me by now, Dream. I am most certainly not a love it or leave it type. What I abhor is lack of perspective. Everyday we have people on here saying this is the "worst" or "most socialist" or "most violent" or "least respectful" era in the history of the world. It's like these people have only been awake for 20 minutes. For basically everyone of these statements, we need only go back a few years to falsify them. This "we are about to hit the bottom" stuff is no different. You and I are so much wealthier than the richest Americans of 100 years ago, and it isn't even close.



For someone that believes that almost all scientific theory is religion, I am bit flabbergasted that you would just accept some arbitrary rating of a subjective criteria like "best". But regardless, your point was that we were almost at the bottom, so even if we accept this ludicrous rating scheme, 15/196 is pretty damn good. By the way, the top countries on these lists are usually Scandinavian. Somehow I doubt that you are going to go bat for their governance.



Agreed.

I can tell you're no big fan of irony. Besides, I'll bet my 15th best is at least as hard and unyielding as your best in infant mortality.

[GatorRade]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

I can tell you're no big fan of irony.

I guess. Or I don't know. You sort of lost me here.

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

Besides, I'll bet my 15th best is at least as hard and unyielding as your best in infant mortality.

Not sure what this means. You mean that the rankings of infant mortality are no more robust than the rankings for "best" countries? Infant mortality is pretty damn difficult to measure, so in a way, I'd agree. But in another, much more important way, I disagree. Infant mortality is an objective measure. "Best" is not. It's like comparing a ranking of most sorrowful paintings vs. a ranking of most paint used in a painting. Only one of these deserves to actually be a ranking.

[Dreamliner]

Originally Posted by GatorRade

I guess. Or I don't know. You sort of lost me here.



Not sure what this means. You mean that the rankings of infant mortality are no more robust than the rankings for "best" countries? Infant mortality is pretty damn difficult to measure, so in a way, I'd agree. But in another, much more important way, I disagree. Infant mortality is an objective measure. "Best" is not. It's like comparing a ranking of most sorrowful paintings vs. a ranking of most paint used in a painting. Only one of these deserves to actually be a ranking.

I'm saying that liberals despise American Exceptionalism ... when it's coming from conservatives. And I am also reminding you that a purported stickler for facts got called out on his infant mortality figures.

[g8orbill]

I have come to the realization after reading the liberal tripe on this issue that the problem is the left does not believe they can do it on their own-so they have to have the guvment to do their bidding

[GatorRade]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

I'm saying that liberals despise American Exceptionalism ... when it's coming from conservatives.

I agree. I am not sure what this has to do with you or I, since I wouldn't call either of us a liberal or a conservative, but I agree.

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

And I am also reminding you that a purported stickler for facts got called out on his infant mortality figures.

I hope we are all "sticklers for facts", but I still believe that the US has the best infant mortality prevention in the world. Though we also have a penchant for trying to bring into this world some of the least like to survive babies in the world (in vitros, over 40 mothers, octomoms, prematures, etc.). Here is a analysis of what I mean: http://www.nationalreview.com/articl...-scott-w-atlas

I think we'd both prefer to live in a country where our particular baby is most likely to be preserved by our health care system - rather than a country where the WHO ranking is the highest.

[fredsanford]

Originally Posted by g8orbill

the total tax burden is not equal and until the close to 50% who pay zero income taxes start paying income taxes will will continue to dig this hole deeper

your prez has been extremely successful in his class envy/warfare mantra

The majority of that vaunted 47% number are retirees who paid taxes their whole lives as well as some members of the military.

It's a completely fake concept that exists only to justify regressionist right wing theories.