John Kerry proposes universal health care by 2012

[Dionysos]

Maybe he knows of an orchard full of money trees we can harvest to pay for this.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060731/...ry_health_care

BOSTON - Sen. John Kerry on Monday proposed requiring all Americans to have health insurance by 2012, "with the federal government guaranteeing that they have the means to afford it."

The Massachusetts Democrat, whose name is figuring prominently in 2008 White House speculation, repeated his 2004 presidential campaign call for expanding the federal Medicaid program to cover children. He also proposed creating a program to cover catastrophic cases so an employer providing insurance doesn't have to pass the cost to his other workers, and; offering Americans the ability to buy into the same insurance program used by federal workers such as members of Congress.
Kerry proposes to pay for the program by repealing tax cuts enacted during the Bush administration that benefit those earning over $200,000 annually. He did not immediately elaborate on how he would enact his insurance mandate, but one aid said he would do so with a requirement written into the legislation spelling out that the government covers anyone who is uninsured.

[Adam D]

Repeal tax cuts and get out of Iraq. That would probably cover quite a bit of it.

[kalamu]

if we were to overspend on something, this is better than most of the crap we overspend on... that's for damn sure

[CLAWFUL]

Originally Posted by kalamu

if we were to overspend on something, this is better than most of the crap we overspend on... that's for damn sure

No shit...Im sure they could shave a few bucks off the "war on Marijuana".

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Adam D

Repeal tax cuts and get out of Iraq. That would probably cover quite a bit of it.

It is a fallacy that increasing tax rates necessarily maximizes tax revenue. The cost of the Iraqi War is easily absorbed - this plan - not so much.

[Mr. Sam]

Originally Posted by CLAWFUL

No shit...Im sure they could shave a few bucks off the "war on Marijuana".

Just legalize it, have the government grow it, and tax the holy shit out of it.

That should pay for it.

[HomoSexualPredator]

Originally Posted by xian

It is a fallacy that increasing tax rates necessarily maximizes tax revenue. The cost of the Iraqi War is easily absorbed - this plan - not so much.

ahh, good ol' a&p. How's it going, xian?

While it may be true that simply increasing tax rates won't particularly maximize tax revenue, it's also true that increasing tax rates will increase tax revenue. Maximize? No. Do we really want to MAXIMIZE tax rates? I don't. . I do want to see healthcare in this nation overhauled, which should include 1. lowering the overall cost of healthcare and providing insurance for all citizens.

[Dionysos]

Originally Posted by xian

The cost of the Iraqi War is easily absorbed

The cost of the war is approaching half a trillion dollars. That's not what I'd call 'easily absorbed' when it's nearly 10% of the federal budget. I'll agree that the impending Medicare fiasco is going to dwarf the Iraq war costs, but it doesn't mean that the Iraq war costs are easy to swallow either.

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Dionysos

The cost of the war is approaching half a trillion dollars. That's not what I'd call 'easily absorbed' when it's nearly 10% of the federal budget. I'll agree that the impending Medicare fiasco is going to dwarf the Iraq war costs, but it doesn't mean that the Iraq war costs are easy to swallow either.

I should have spoken more thoroughly and less more clearly... with reference to the Medicare et al fiascos....

Originally Posted by McG

ahh, good ol' a&p. How's it going, xian?

While it may be true that simply increasing tax rates won't particularly maximize tax revenue, it's also true that increasing tax rates will increase tax revenue.

Not necessarily. I'll readily concede that finding the equilibrium point may take a bit of tinkering but recent revenues are up even with the tax cuts because the cuts permitted economic expansion... tax a bigger pie less rather than a smaller pie more.

Originally Posted by McG

Maximize? No. Do we really want to MAXIMIZE tax rates? I don't. .

Me either.

Originally Posted by McG

I do want to see healthcare in this nation overhauled, which should include 1. lowering the overall cost of healthcare and providing insurance for all citizens.

And I disavow socialism

[Adam D]

Originally Posted by xian

It is a fallacy that increasing tax rates necessarily maximizes tax revenue. The cost of the Iraqi War is easily absorbed - this plan - not so much.

Only a fallacy disputed by a history of tax collection. Sure, you can overtax a population, but that's not what we're talking about. You made the claim that revenue is up in spite of tax cuts, but they're also up because a corporate tax break also expired in 2004. So, taxes went up, and revenue went up.

If the cost of the war is easily absorbed, why are we seeing a continuation of deficits?

[Dionysos]

Originally Posted by Adam D

If the cost of the war is easily absorbed, why are we seeing a continuation of deficits?

Because the WH and the GOP-controlled Congress are spending like drunken sailors.

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Adam D

Only a fallacy disputed by a history of tax collection. Sure, you can overtax a population, but that's not what we're talking about.

look at the Carter years for what the effect of increasing taxes to increase revenue does to an economy.

I said that it is false that an increase will necessarily increase revenues... it can, but it doesn't have to. See note to McG - the rate that maximizes revenue and growth (or perhaps balances them best?) is hard, if at all possible, to define. But arguing that increasing rates is necessarily the best idea to fill the coffers may be penny wise and pound foolish. Besides - you know I'm both a supply sider and a tax hater so you shouldn't be at all surprised by my comments

Originally Posted by Adam D

You made the claim that revenue is up in spite of tax cuts,

No - I asserted that revenue was up because of tax cuts.

Originally Posted by Adam D

If the cost of the war is easily absorbed, why are we seeing a continuation of deficits?

see note to Jonny - easy is subjective and I was incomplete with my comments. Clearly its is too goddamn expensive

Originally Posted by Dionysos

Because the WH and the GOP-controlled Congress are spending like drunken sailors.

that, quite specificly, too

[tricky]

Originally Posted by xian

see note to Jonny - easy is subjective and I was incomplete with my comments. Clearly its is too goddamn expensive

that, quite specificly, too

you're slippin !