Quote:
Originally Posted by Baron1710
It seems more and more people are happy to have the government take what they make and give them back what the government thinks they need, food stamps, housing, healthcare, etc. I did an international law program in France and our host family was upset at the idea of having to work 38 hours a week. They felt the government owed them a job, at no more than 35 hours a week, and at least 5 weeks vacation.
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I know a family from Italy who’s spent considerable time in France and the Netherlands that feels the same way. Of course I asked why they felt that way. The wife answered and explained that they feel they need the time to be a “family”, to pursue faith, and health. She doesn’t like America. She tells me American families don’t have time to be a family like they do in Italy. I’m big on health care and so we talked a bit about that. She said America’s system is the most frustrating and confusing thing she’s ever seen. And she is absolutely floored at the cost. She’s wondering why we as a people don’t demand greater efficiency and services.
There’s a story about a Harvard President named Neil Rudenstine. He suffered from extreme burn out and nearly had a nervous breakdown. Rudenstine took a 3 month sabbatical to recoup. While away he realized that many of us have lost the concept of the sacred rhythm of rest and community. The ancients understood this to some degree and that old world thinking is still found in much of Europe today. It’s very alien to our workaholic, consumerist, non-stop, toil and struggle to acquire culture in America. Americans have never worked longer or harder. And I believe that if you look closely you’ll see that it’s the American family that suffers most. Divorce, crime, and mental/emotional breakdown are more prevalent in America than Europe. They invest in “humanity” as national community. That’s why liberal nations like Belgium have the lowest abortion rate on earth. They can breathe and raise a family without fear of absolute destitution.
I think welfare is an issue to be handled at the state level. I’d like to see health care addressed at the state level too but in America it seems that the federal government has to take the lead or no serious reform take place.
I have a question about something that I’ve yet to get a firm understanding about….
You had mentioned lighter taxes. What good are lighter taxes when the cost of other things like health care and fuel are steadily rising far beyond the savings we’d save if they cut all our taxes altogether? I mean, if they could negotiate a price for every citizen for a service (like health care) and subsidize it with a tax increase
that is even less than what we pay for the same service right now including the negotiated premium, thereby landing more of your own money in your pocket, is that not lightening your burden?
****Not interested in directly debating health care. I’m just interested in understanding why the idea of a moderate tax increase with negotiated costs for a service that are lower than current free market cost is undesirable when we’d save more of our own money with it.****
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