Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well it is not straight forward sadly, as it is on a scale according to income. The rates are about 7-11% of income goes on health, pensions contributions, and benefit support. Then income tax sits at different levels. The first $70,000 is taxed at about 22% and then additional earnings over and above that is taxed at 40%, with some deductables (I earn $14,000 tax free). Car Tax is about $800 per annum Sales tax (charged on goods and most services except children's items) is at 17.5% Then there are special tariffs on alcohol, tobacco and fuel. My TV licence (which pays for the BBC including shows such as Dr Who) is $22 a month. I pay $12 per perscription for any drugs (so a good deal on expensive $200 pills, not a great deal if prescribed aspirin). Dental Appointments are typically £12 and a root canal cost me $150. These taxes are high, but the education system, public transport, the road network, library services and medical are great (the medical system in Ireland is different than hear, and poor in comparison). You can have medical insurance to do some things quicker and more conveniently, or cosmetic decisions. The National Health Service is not 5* but nor was some of the care I have had in the US either. What I do know is my mom who is disabled is very well taken care, so I can focus my attention on my little ones. My education was Ivy league and I only have $5000 worth of debt 12 years ago (that was cost of living, partying and travelling all over Europe and Africa). No system is perfect, but when we went from being wealthy to poor in the US because of family illnesses, and yet here we have had great care and education, it made me very appreciative of a good social structure. Also we have great play provision for under 5's now, which costs $2 a day!!! Wonderful. Free contraception. So many positives (and also lot's of negatives too). But I think the good outweighs the bad.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Free contraception. So many positives (and also lot's of negatives too). But I think the good outweighs the bad.*** So are you counting this one as a "pro" or a "con"? We all know what America would say about THAT, right? (or I should say, kooky right wing evangelical America)
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Someone posted on here that many of these people new what they were saying about Obama wasn't true or was at best misleading. This is simply false.> No it isn't. I didn't say everybody. Sure, some people who don't really understand what socialism is probably really believed that Obama was a socialist, because they heard people saying it. But McCain, certainly, knew better than that. And when challenged on it, he did sort of back down on it - you could tell he was uncomfortable with it. You could see plenty of his surrogates were too, because they knew better, but had to spout it when it was the "daily message." And, by the way, if Bush had detractors on "day one," there are plenty of right-wingers out there now who are trashing Obama before he even takes office. Literally not giving him a chance to do ANYTHING before they start attacking. Not elected officials - they want to see if they can work with him and they're making nice, by and large. But talk radio and pundits are already starting in and getting their shock troops riled up. Limbaugh has already called what we're in now "The Obama Recession," (!) trying to coin a term he hopes will stick (with more than just the dittoheads who will repeat it as long as he tells them to). This, of course, despite the fact that Obama won't even take over till January. So while elected officials are mostly making nice, a large number of hugely influential people are already in attack mode, before Obama has even taken office.
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>"You know it's possible that SOME of those people are just being patriotic, that they believe in the process, that the people have spoken..."<<< I agree. I have respect for the office and I find it interesting that there are some that are surprised that even though some did not vote for him that they could still support him as their Pres.
