Taxes: We Pay More for Less

So much mis-information has been put out by special interests and simply repeated by media, that we now believe many lies to be truth, without even a hint that maybe we should question what we believe. Michael Moore has a new book, "Mike's Election Guide 2008", that for $11, nicely debunks the great political lies of our time. For example, for what we get for our taxes, we pay more taxes that any other country . That statement has been becoming more true that longer that Republicans are in office, because Republican government is corrupt and inefficient.

Here is how Michael Moore highlights his book:

• Does John McCain think it's right to drop bombs on civilians in (his words) "heavily populated" cities?

• The only reason Social Security is running out of money is because people who make over $102,000 a year pay NO social security tax on what they make over $102,000 (if they did, we'd have enough money in Social Security for the next 75 years!).
• Bring back the draft -- but only draft the rich. If they have to serve, they won't be so eager to start ridiculous wars.
• Despite what you've heard, we actually pay more "taxes" than France or any European country -- and get none of the benefits they receive.
• Why we must arrest Misters Bush and Cheney as they slip out of the White House this coming January 20th for the crimes they have committed.

(DailyKOS)

On health care, start by knowing that what employers pay in health care are basically "lost wages", plus we pay many deductions and copays. So if you take what is paid by us or employers, we pay about $12,000 per a family per a year for health care and then we still pay 19% income tax. The French just pay 22% income tax. And the French get better health care!

Here's what the French get:

• FREE healthcare
• FREE (or virtually free) child care
• FREE tuition at every university, from community colleges tot Sorbonne
• Four months minimum of maternity leave with FULL PAY
• Unlimited sick days at FULL PAY for all citizens

All of that -- for paying just a bit more to the government. How can they afford that?

Here's how. They don't invade countries. They stopped being a colonial power.
(Mike's Election Guide)

Social security is only in danger because

...the rich and the near rich DO NOT PAY ONE DIME OF SOCIAL SECURITY TAX ON ANY INCOME OVER $102,000!
(Mike's Election Guide)

Now just listen to the Republicans who protect the rich squeal about this. Labels like socialism. Really Americans do not have any "market" choice in health care now, if it was a government run health care, maybe we could pay as little taxes and health care costs as the French. For the Republican sensitivities, we could just label it a "fee"!