Why we need a mandatory living wage:

[Diablo]

As far as I know increasing tax rates usually drops the total tax take since the smart people find ways to avoid it. It would make sense to take the lowest paid out of tax altogether to avoid the ineffiency of collecting tiny amounts. Remove tax breaks - I think there are plenty of them in the States - and lower tax rates, make them progressive but not radically so, is probably the best way to go.

Efficient government would help. How much did Iraq2 cost the American and British taxpayers? And what for? Nothing except wrecking the place. Afghan too. A lot of government spending could be either cut or redirected to to better causes.

[Dystopia]

I just figure if you're struggling just to live, then any tax is just another burden piled on other burdens. Not that I'm some major or minor in economy. I do realize that a 5% tax on everyone still leaves the rich paying more than the poor, but if you're making less than $10,000 a year, then 5% will make a bigger difference than if you're making over $10,000,000 a year.

Chad, for really poor people perhaps exceptions could be made, that's not a problem, but generally everyone pays the same, it's better - In the case of progressive taxes organized by 'levels' it's easy to avoid the system and trick the government, if it's 5% for everyone there is no run away, you have to pay and don't get to argue why you should pay 4 and not 5.

Rhythm, With that I completely agree Don't take my opinion as a pro-american-conservative one, but I'm not a liberal either - It's just what I think, maybe because in Europe problems are different I may be suggesting measures that would not be effective. Here I see government intervention as a problem - Maybe in the US it's a lack of intervention the problem

[Chad32]

We definitely have a lot of problems with the government. The rich buy off politicians, then the politicians give them tax breaks and subsidies to repay them. These wars really aren't doing us any favors.

[The Grand Nudger]

Here I see government intervention as a problem - Maybe in the US it's a lack of intervention the problem

Depends on how you define intervention. Here, our government regularly "intervenes"- in that it is often an accomplice to whatever douchemove wealth wants to foist upon poverty. Government operates in the red so that business can operate in the black (almost as if one were a shell for the other). We're cooking the books for these fuckers- and then taking the flak.

[Dystopia]

Here I see government intervention as a problem - Maybe in the US it's a lack of intervention the problem

Depends on how you define intervention. Here, our government regularly "intervenes"- in that it is often an accomplice to whatever douchemove wealth wants to foist upon poverty. Government operates in the red so that business can operate in the black (almost as if one were a shell for the other). We're cooking the books for these fuckers- and then taking the flak.

A good example would be for the government to run companies that have always been private by nature and are not compatible with the State's typical bureaucracy. Let's say the government wants to run a sports company - It's not efficient and I oppose it - They should stick to healthcare, education and other basic necessities - Even plane companies should not be owned by the government (mostly, not all), flying is not a basic human necessity and costs a lot.

In the case of portugal, sometimes a private company is bankrupting the government injects money on them, to prevent bankruptcy - I disagree with this - If they are a private entity and failed, let them sink.

[The Grand Nudger]

The entities we "let sink" here are generally the tiny (read: poor) ones. They don't have enough capital to buy a bailout.

[Baqal]

Even plane companies should not be owned by the government (mostly, not all), flying is not a basic human necessity and costs a lot.

Costs a lot? Yeah right. Aircraft transportation of passengers and cargo is the most efficient one. It does not create traffic, it does not require roads to be built and constantly repaired. Say whatever you want, this is the safest form of transportation ever invented. You are looking at it too narrowly.

[The Grand Nudger]

Even allowing all of that, the fuel cost is tremendous (both financially and environmentally). Fuel, mind you, is already subsidized - and yet the cost is so large that it might be able to offset all those benefits you listed (as currently practiced, anyway).

[Baqal]

Even allowing all of that, the fuel cost is tremendous (both financially and environmentally). Fuel, mind you, is already subsidized - and yet the cost is so large that it might be able to offset all those benefits you listed (as currently practiced, anyway).

Who is giving the subsidies?

[The Grand Nudger]

Depends on what part of the process we want to put under a microscope. Ultimately, we are - whether we're aware of or would agree with the subsidies or not.