Obamacare preview: Mayo Clinic in Arizona to Stop Treating Some Medicare Patients

[BarneyFife]

Both employer and worker pay 7.3% each-- without Social Security and Medicare, every working man's wage would be 15% higher. You have any idea what 15% more money would do for the economy? It would fix our problem right there.

It would just mean American's would have 15% more debt.

 

[Zebo]

Guilty, as charged, Your Honor.

I made a serious effort (30 years ago ) to maximize capital gains to reduce my tax burden as compared to that of 'salaries, wages & tips ...'

Just a guess on my part but I imagine it has meant a reduction of 30-50% over the obligations of my 'conventional income'.

And what is even a bigger kick to the crotch of the 'system', depending upon the final status of the inheritance tax, my heirs will receive the bounty of the 'accelerated basis' tax free.

That is, unless I go Hunter Thompson on them, sell-out and surround myself with age 20-something supermodels




--

Capital gains and inheritance is really pretty minor as things go, but sure hit them at 1% too. Really it's unearned income where majority of cash could roll in from. Those are secondary (others working for you) and tertiary (an oil well working for you) income streams which comprises majority of investment classes income and it's ignored.

I like this Hunter Thompson idea, is Viagra a business expense.

 

[Zebo]

Both employer and worker pay 7.3% each-- without Social Security and Medicare, every working man's wage would be 15% higher. You have any idea what 15% more money would do for the economy? It would fix our problem right there.

Not really. It just allows it to be spent what they want to spend it on vs. health care. The money is still filtered back into economy and spent. Now if you're saying we just borrow for medicare instead of taxing you'd be right, for awhile.

 

[Patranus]

Neither of those is a problem and you don't know what a Ponzi scheme is.

Well considering Medicare requires more youth to pay Medicare tax each year to support it, yes, it is a Ponzi scheme. Please enlighten all of us as to how it isn't a Ponzi scheme....

Additionally, it is very much a problem that Medicare isn't optional. Why would I "invest" earnings in the government when I can get a much better return in the free market and buy my own insurance PLUS have that additional monies?

What happens if I pay into the system but never reach the eligibility age...Can I pass those monies not my children? Nope.

Both are very much a problem.

 

[Zebo]

When did I say Medicare was going anywhere?
The problem is that Medicare is a Ponzi scheme and is not optional.

I'm confused then I thought it was the "Eliminate medicare." sentence which made me think you wanted medicare to disappear?

 

[soccerballtux]

Not really. It just allows it to be spent what they want to spend it on vs. health care. The money is still filtered back into economy and spent. Now if you're saying we just borrow for medicare instead of taxing you'd be right, for awhile.

Less would go to consumption of necessities aka food. More would go to things that would actually stimulate the economy.

 

[Patranus]

I'm confused then I thought it was the "Eliminate medicare." sentence which made me think you wanted medicare to disappear?

I want it to be eliminated in its current form, yes, but I agree that it wont happen.

 

[alphatarget1]

Both employer and worker pay 7.3% each-- without Social Security and Medicare, every working man's wage would be 15% higher. You have any idea what 15% more money would do for the economy? It would fix our problem right there.

Actually most people will probably just spend it on HDTVs, thereby sending money to China.

 

[Zebo]

Well considering Medicare requires more youth to pay Medicare tax each year to support it, yes, it is a Ponzi scheme. Please enlighten all of us as to how it isn't a Ponzi scheme....

Additionally, it is very much a problem that Medicare isn't optional. Why would I "invest" earnings in the government when I can get a much better return in the free market and buy my own insurance PLUS have that additional monies?

What happens if I pay into the system but never reach the eligibility age...Can I pass those monies not my children? Nope.

Both are very much a problem.

This way was tried and failed. Mainly due to the fact shit happens.

 

[Patranus]

This way was tried and failed. Mainly due to the fact shit happens.

Medicare was tried and failed.
I would much rather have freedom to choose how to spend my money than being told how to spend my money.

 

[Zebo]

Medicare was tried and failed.
I would much rather have freedom to choose how to spend my money than being told how to spend my money.

Don't we all. Death and taxes...

 

[umbrella39]

We can see right through you OP. Your agenda is transparent.

 

[soccerballtux]

Actually most people will probably just spend it on HDTVs, thereby sending money to China.

First, the cost of production is only a fraction of what the user pays for it. Second, like always, trade _always_ is better for _both parties_. This is common knowledge. Third, China invests all that money back into us, so it's inconsequential.