01-13-2010, 09:43 AM
One reason, and I think it is valid, is that many Europeans are taxed oppressively.
They have sweet lives, but they pay for it!
The falsehood is that this is ALL to pay for their "free" healthcare. Not true. They benefit from myriad other things as well as healthcare.
Such as:
Much better public transport
Lots of vacation
Money for those vacations (yes, some countries give you money to go on vacation! Go back & read the article on the system in the Netherlands)
Retirement benefits
Money for kids (in France, you get money to buy school supplies for your kids)
Maternity leave (not just a month or two. In France it is dependant on the number of kids you have. They also provide assistance while you are on leave, e.g. someone to come to your house and cook & clean)
These are just some that I am aware of.
Healthcare reform in the US is not going to provide all of these other things. It will raise taxes, but not to the stifling level a lot of Europeans pay.
Of course, people who don't want to pay any taxes will construct their strawmen. My favorite is the "Well, if we provide free healthcare, how long until the people are demanding free plasma TVs?"
They have sweet lives, but they pay for it!
The falsehood is that this is ALL to pay for their "free" healthcare. Not true. They benefit from myriad other things as well as healthcare.
Such as:
Much better public transport
Lots of vacation
Money for those vacations (yes, some countries give you money to go on vacation! Go back & read the article on the system in the Netherlands)
Retirement benefits
Money for kids (in France, you get money to buy school supplies for your kids)
Maternity leave (not just a month or two. In France it is dependant on the number of kids you have. They also provide assistance while you are on leave, e.g. someone to come to your house and cook & clean)
These are just some that I am aware of.
Healthcare reform in the US is not going to provide all of these other things. It will raise taxes, but not to the stifling level a lot of Europeans pay.
Of course, people who don't want to pay any taxes will construct their strawmen. My favorite is the "Well, if we provide free healthcare, how long until the people are demanding free plasma TVs?"