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Fumesucker

(45,851 posts)

5. A graduated VAT combined with a $15 minimum wage with a real COLA

Reply to Recursion (Original post)

Sat Oct 31, 2015, 09:29 AM

Oct 2015

By graduated I mean that necessities such as food, shelter and so on are taxed at a significantly lower rate than say, yachts or diamond encrusted iPhones.

Also by law no VAT funds can be used for any military purpose, that has to come from general taxation.

There are a lot of other details that would have to be worked out but I'm not in theory opposed to it.

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European countries have a VAT that hovers between 20% and 25% [View all] Recursion Oct 2015 OP

In Germany, we're still at 19% DFW Oct 2015 #1

Only if there were no other costs. ileus Oct 2015 #2

To be fair SoCalNative Oct 2015 #3

The VAT is somewhat regressive (like FICA) but, if it is used for progressive programs pampango Oct 2015 #4

A graduated VAT combined with a $15 minimum wage with a real COLA Fumesucker Oct 2015 #5

I seriously doubt your cocktail napkin calculation, considering that ... dawg Oct 2015 #6

And that's about 14% of the population Recursion Oct 2015 #8

Your own link says that Medicare is already 20% of total health spending and Medicaid ... dawg Nov 2015 #11

Yes, we cover 14% of the population with 20% of the costs, which was my point Recursion Nov 2015 #13

No. You are being purposely deceptive with your numbers. dawg Nov 2015 #14

"Forced to admit"? I claimed we cover 14% of *people* with Medicare Recursion Nov 2015 #15

Medicare parts B and D aren't funded by the payroll tax, PoliticAverse Oct 2015 #10

2.9% FICA share only covers 38% of Medicare spending. General revenue covers 41%/ Yo_Mama Nov 2015 #16

Considering that medical (Medicare, supplemental, drug plan) Downwinder Oct 2015 #7

I guess the beauty of the VAT 1939 Oct 2015 #9

Only if not given other options. Donald Ian Rankin Nov 2015 #12

We pay twice as much per capita NOW compared to these countries eridani Nov 2015 #17