Reply #89: Using Europe in this "argument" is apples & slingshots [View All]

[SoCalDem]

not even close enough to be apples & oranges:

The cost of "petrol" in Europe is mostly TAXES..

Those taxes go to support a MASSIVE public transportation system that we DON'T have (and probably never will have)..

Taxes in Europe also fund an excellent (for now at least) PUBLIC HEALTH CARE SYSTEM that we DON'T have (and won't have until the boomers all die off)

Taxes also provide unemployment compensation there that is a LOT kinder than we have here

Taxes there provide a safety net for elders

Taxes there provide education benefits that allow young people to study & graduate without soul-crushing life-long debt like we have here.

Taxes there pay for a broad-ranging array of services that citizens deserve...there are strong unions, well-paid workers with 6-7 weeks of PAID vacation yearly, child care benefits, PAID maternity leave for BOTH parents

Europe treats their citizens with dignity and actually provides some benefits with the citizenship...unlike here.

TAXES support the whole system and people don't mind paying taxes there because they don't also have to shell out HUGE payments to already-rich (and greedy) insurance companies..

Many people here in the US would gladly switch "systems", if given the chance.

Their cars are also a LOT more efficient than the behemoth gas guzzlers we allow..