quote:

Originally posted by occrider So let's summarize: Tax Hikes -Eliminating the deduction for state and local taxes (This is HUGE tax hike for EVERYONE ... my state charges an ASSLOAD)

Yes but for Texas - a state where an income tax is unconstitutional, this is excellent. Texas has a sales tax, no income taxes, and has been losing end for centuries because of it (as people can't claim sales tax deductions). I think it is finally evening up this disparity, and encouraging states to get rid of an income tax as well.

So not EVERYONE is losing in this case. Texas is definitely gaining.

quote:

-Eliminating the business tax deduction for employer-sponsored health insurance (Sounds great for small businesses)

I don't understand this... isn't health insurance deductable as a business expense? Or in addition to this was the government actually give you money for it?

___________________
SAVE ZIONIST MUSTARD: BUY ZIONIST KETCHUP!


Click here to support the free mustard alliance.

quote:

Originally posted by Yoepus So not EVERYONE is losing in this case. Texas is definitely gaining.

fuck texas, i'll more than likely pay 5 grand in state income taxes this year. i don't feel i should to be taxed on my taxes. especially to help fund additional tax breaks to investors.

and btw, just because texas is unaffected, i hardly see how they are gaining from this.

quote:

I don't understand this... isn't health insurance deductable as a business expense? Or in addition to this was the government actually give you money for it?

http://sbc.senate.gov/105press/jun1097.html

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopicl92.pdf

it's not a case where the government was "giving" money for health care, they just couldn't take as much if you provided it. we could potentially be looking at an additional cost to employers of over $1000 per year per employee.

quote:

Originally posted by Shakka Just because the tax-credit is eliminated doesn't mean an employer doesn't have the incentive to maintain employee sponsored healthcare as a benefit to attract better candidates to the job.

speculate on competive employment all you want, businesses still respond to the bottom line. it may not be the government's responsibility to provide health care, but don't you think that turning back 30 years of progress of encouraging employers to provide what the government doesn't is a little extreem?

all to help justify additional tax cuts to investors?

quote:

Originally posted by occrider So that's 3 tax cuts for the wealthy funded by two tax hikes for teh middle class. WTF???? What the fuck?????

Look at the bright side - at least those darn homos won't be allowed to marry any time soon.

You know if everyone just paid for the health care that they use it would cost everyone less on average than paying for the same amount of total health care plus paying for a huge, inefficient infrastructure designed to arbitrarily redistribute these costs across the population.

quote:

Originally posted by Arbiter You know if everyone just paid for the health care that they use it would cost everyone less on average than paying for the same amount of total health care plus paying for a huge, inefficient infrastructure designed to arbitrarily redistribute these costs across the population.

Do you know how much medical bills can cost? Have a catastrophic injury or disease and you'd be screwed paying the whole bill.

___________________
Download My Spring '08 Mix Here

Thurs May 15: Influence @ Tini Martini w/ Kris B. vs. Nosmo, Rikler & Mike Palmeri
Thurs June 5: Under the Influence @ Tini Martini w/Mathias Matthew, Jack Kim & more TBA

quote:

Originally posted by wolverine16 Do you know how much medical bills can cost? Have a catastrophic injury or disease and you'd be screwed paying the whole bill.

They cost the same amount whether they're administered through a bureaurcacy or not, the only difference is the additional cost for paying for the bureaucracy.

Sure, some people are going to have bad luck and end up with a huge bill. That's just life. You can't compensate for the inherent unpredictability and randomness of the universe. Maybe the injury will kill you - what good then would health care do you? Life can't be made fair, and it's pointless and futile for society to incur wasteful expenses trying to do so.