AP POLL: How to pay for health overhaul? Tax the rich

[Admiral Yi]

Big Macs are too damn expensive anyways.     What is it, $5+ for the meal?  That gets you 3 pieces of tasty chicken and 2 ribs at the Crown Fried Chicken.  At MickeyD's you have to go for the new non-Dollar menu Double Cheesburger for $1.19.

Absolutely.  Double cheeseburger (stand alone or combo) is the best deal at Mickey's.

[Warspite]

I wish I were rich enough to know whether taxes on the rich actually stung or not.

[Admiral Yi]

They've released financing details of the Senate version.  There were four things mentioned, unfortunately I can only remember two.  Decrease in Medicare payments and an increase in Medicare taxes for people $250K +.

And apparently the Senate version *decreases* the deficit by somthing like 132 billion over 10 years.

[Admiral Yi]

Oh yeah, and it includes public option with state opt-out.

[MadImmortalMan]

I actually think cutting taxes (what little there actually are, anyways) on the poor rather than the rich is likely to have a more immediate economic benefit, since the poor are less likely to save and more likely to immediately blow any cash they have on consumer goods.  Obviously not all poor people behave that way, but I'm sure the majority do.

I agree with this, particularly the short-term part. But the flip side of that is that that kind of money is not growth money. It's keep us afloat money. It's all that "extra" money that rich people have that creates jobs and growth.

[Caliga]

I know, but the Dems either don't know that or don't care.  It's too bad poor people have the same number of votes in elections as the middle and upper classes. 

[Ed Anger]

It's too bad poor people have the same number of votes in elections as the middle and upper classes. 

The Tribune of the Plebs is out of control.

[Tamas]

Some Slovakian libertarian has the best idea: he wants that when you go to vote in an election, you are presented with the choice: the ballot, or 7 euros cash right there.

If you ask me, it's an excellent idea. The dumbest and most irresponsible segments of society would not be voting, while they would not be de facto banned from voting.

[Caliga]

Hey, that's a great idea. 

[Josephus]

The dumbest and most irresponsible segments of society would not be voting, while they would not be de facto banned from voting.

I wouldn't think the Wall Street crowd can be bought off so easily.

[Caliga]

I remember reading once that in Australia (or New Zealand?) it is actually ILLEGAL to not vote in elections if you are a registered voter.  WORST.  IDEA.  EVER.

[Faeelin]

I agree with this, particularly the short-term part. But the flip side of that is that that kind of money is not growth money. It's keep us afloat money. It's all that "extra" money that rich people have that creates jobs and growth.

I'm not so sure that's clear. What disposable income among the poor isn't playing a role in our consumer-domintaed economy?

[Faeelin]

I remember reading once that in Australia (or New Zealand?) it is actually ILLEGAL to not vote in elections if you are a registered voter.  WORST.  IDEA.  EVER.

I have to admit, I lost a bit of faith in democracy when I found out that the majority of Americans thought the USSR was in NATO in the 60s.

[Josephus]

I remember reading once that in Australia (or New Zealand?) it is actually ILLEGAL to not vote in elections if you are a registered voter.  WORST.  IDEA.  EVER.

I have to admit, I lost a bit of faith in democracy when I found out that the majority of Americans thought the USSR was in NATO in the 60s.

Never heard that. But I believe it. I was watching Amazing Race a few weeks ago and the contestants, young Americans, were shown a picture of Jackie O. and they had no idea who it was.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swz3px7cRVc

[Grey Fox]

Not everyone is a geeky history nerd tho.