Why the U.S. Spends So Much More Than Other Nations on Health Care

Re:Why the U.S. Spends So Much More Than Other Nations on He... by ZeroGravitas on Wednesday January 03, 2018 @06:42AM (#16060186)

Or alternatively, "I like to pay taxes. With them I buy civilization" and some would consider pointless wastes of time as a tax too, just one that benefits no-one.

Apparently the anti-tax element of the Republicans are responsible for taxes in the US being much harder to file than in other countries, because they follow your principle that paying taxes should also inconvenience people in an attempt to make them angry about the whole thing.

Presumably they're not supposed to find out who was responsible for making them angry and wasting their time with pointless busywork.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why the U.S. Spends So Much More Than Other Nations on He... by sharemywin on Wednesday January 03, 2018 @08:28AM (#16060758)

If the government doesn't make sense look to some group with a powerful lobby trying to save jobs or kids:

https://www.propublica.org/article/filing-taxes-could-be-fre...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why the U.S. Spends So Much More Than Other Nations on He... by nybble41 on Wednesday January 03, 2018 @02:05PM (#16063975)

> "I like to pay taxes. With them I buy civilization"

Taxes are never about what YOU want to pay; no one is stopping you from "buying civilization" with your own money, if that is what you want. Rather, taxes are all about what you can make OTHER people pay for your "civilization".

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why the U.S. Spends So Much More Than Other Nations on He... by Firadeoclus on Thursday January 04, 2018 @06:24AM (#16069497)

Except you can't "buy civilization" as an individual. Civilization is a system of participation and, yes, enforcement of rules.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why the U.S. Spends So Much More Than Other Nations on He... by nybble41 on Thursday January 04, 2018 @01:11PM (#16072558)

The so-called "civilization" which taxes buy is a system of forced participation and oppression, devoid of civility, destructive to society, and morally indefensible.

All the things that taxes pay for can be purchased by private individuals and organizations working together of their own free will, and not because they are forced to do so. That is true civilization: civilized people cooperating to build a society where civilized, voluntary interaction, not force, is the norm.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why the U.S. Spends So Much More Than Other Nations on He... by ZeroGravitas on Thursday January 04, 2018 @02:06PM (#16073083)

Can you name a system, even a theoretical one, which doesn't meet your anti-criteria of being "forced participation and oppression .. morally indefensible". I don't think you can, which renders your criticisms hollow.

Human beings purchasing things from each other with no legal system? With no property rights? Is this system global, and if not then how do you interact with other nations with their own systems. None of this can exist without someone with a big stick to keep people in line.

[ Parent | on HN ]