I Gotta Be Free
Tax Freedom Day is the day of the year when Americans have earned enough money to satisfy their tax burden for that year and can start keeping what they earn. This year that day fell on April 30. In other words, on average every cent earned by every American between January 1 and April 30 was stolen by government.
Our good friends in the Great White North, however, aren’t so lucky. Their Tax Freedom Day is June 20. In other words, everything every Canadian earned between January 1 and June 20 was stolen by the government.
Starting tomorrow, Canadians have paid off the total tax bill imposed on them by government and can finally start working for themselves, according to The Fraser Institute’s annual Tax Freedom Day calculations. “If you look at the average Canadian family’s total tax bill, each and every dollar they earn before June 20 would be required to pay the taxes owing to all levels of government. It takes until June 20 before they begin earning money for themselves,” said Niels Veldhuis, The Fraser Institute’s Director of the Centre for Tax Studies.
When you watch Sicko and you hear Moore repeatedly refer to Canada’s “free” healthcare system, keep in mind that there is no such thing as free healthcare.
Comments
Why is medicine 6 pounds in England and hundreds upon hundreds here for the same thing?
Because the Brits didn’t invent it. They didn’t have any R&D;costs.
I see, that’s why company execs make hundreds of millions of dollars instead of billions. Research and development. I make a product in my community and people thousands of miles away get it cheaper 1,000 fold because of geography.
/Makes no sense.
//must be why Sony is so expensive in Japan
</sarcasm>
I’ve been to Basel, Switzerland whos main commodity and known economic revenue is medicinal research and they provide it free; so that argument falls to pieces on it’s face.
I see, that’s why company execs make hundreds of millions of dollars instead of billions.
There’s that wealth envy shining through again.
Leading to my prediction:
“Librarian: I make a ton of money myself, I’m not envious.”
Blah, blah, blah
I’ve been to Basel, Switzerland whos main commodity and known economic revenue is medicinal research
Good point. Btw, I see that Novartis is based there, and that the CEO made something to the tune of $16M (I’m not sure if that includes stock and other benefits). Not too bad.
Thanks for the heads-up, Librarian. You’ve inspired me to do more research on this. I’ve learned that European CEO’s are making out like bandits. You need to get your governments to work on a solution to that problem.
Okay, last post before I go back to work: I see that you’re probably still paying your taxes, Librarian. You have my sympathies—I’ve been tax-free for several weeks now.
You know what’s doubly spectacular? The CEO’s make out like bandits and the peasantry still gets their medicine.
/pretty remarkable stuff
That’s teh funnay Bismark. British people work an extra week a year but still get paid vacations (which is so conveniently missing from the article) Ask a Brit how much paid vacation they get if a member of their immediate family dies. After you do that, ask an American and report the results. I’m not a fan of paying people to take off from not working but your story tried to stamp the British as workslaves with no protection.
/their quality of professional life is better than an Americans on a comparable scale and you know this.
//People should be responsible for themself to the point that it becomes burdensome for the community at large. Britian and the rest of the EU have managed to take care of their own, and I tilt my hat in their general direction.
///Kudos to you Europe. Why is our country so reluctant to help out the destitute. I took care of my government for so many years with my dollars and hard work. Why is it trite to expect something in return. That is the concept of an exchange.
their quality of professional life is better than an Americans on a comparable scale and you know this.
No, I don’t know this—surely you’re not being serious...?
That’s a rather new way of phrasing JFK’s “Ask not what your country can you for you” statement. Again, you prove yourself undeserving of the “libertarian” description.I took care of my government for so many years with my dollars and hard work. Why is it trite to expect something in return.
The CEO’s make out like bandits and the peasantry still gets their medicine.
As long as it us judged to be financially beneficial by those in power. The very latest drugs are quite often rationed in the UK. Herceptin is a good example.
It has been cleared for use with advanced cases but not for early ones, where arguably it would be more beneficial.
Some alzheimers (sp?) treatments have been similarly restricted. You can not even get some drugs privately because of the restrictions placed on their use.
Your neighbour may be able to get the treatment you need because they live in a different Health Care Trust catchment area. My brother suffers from this problem. He has a 6-9 month wait to see a specialist where he lives, our Aunt who lives only a few miles away (less than ten), under a different HCT, has a 6-9 week wait.
We have a term “Post Code Lottery”. If you require a certain treatment and live in the right post code you can get it. If not !!!!!!
Socialised medicine can be very good at the minor ailments and even some major ones. However when it’s bad it is worse than third world levels.
It is not the medical staff that are the problem. It’s the bean counters. You think medicaid is bad wait until you get a full blown health service. It is the biggest employer in the UK and it also has the biggest beurocracy (sp?).
So now Libertarian equates to paying into a system for years and years and never asking for a return on it?
/I give you money which comes from my time and energy and expect something in return I’m an ingrate?
/I give you money which comes from my time and energy and expect something in return I’m an ingrate?
Um, well, yes. Libertarians want gov’t to back the hell out of their lives, not hang around until we decide what we want it to do for us.
Absolutely, but since it never is going to I’ll expect something in return.
/Hey I’m gonna steal your wallet...Well I don’t want that but can I atleast have my ID card.
//Government, as it exists should atleast take care of those they rule over. They take their money and demand they obey certain rules they decide on. We have a right to demand that our well being is looked after by our ‘benefactors’
///Rather live in the woods barefoot but that isn’t much of a life
Posted by Libertarian Librarian on 06/21/2007 at 01:56 PM
So now Libertarian equates to paying into a system for years and years and never asking for a return on it?
Only if by “no return”, you’re referring to:
- National defense
- Foreign relations
- Common currency
- Interstate highways
- Safety standards and enforcement
- etc.
then...yes. But to you it seems that if the government doesn’t take care of your health for you, then they’re not doing squat.
///Rather live in the woods barefoot but that isn’t much of a life
Where do you get all these strawmen? (I have an answer, but I’ll save it for myself. :) )
Where do you get the strawman that Americans have no desire to live?
/At the least my government should realize I’m interested in living
//And you do too (Or I hope you do)
Posted by Libertarian Librarian on 06/21/2007 at 02:19 PM
Where do you get the strawman that Americans have no desire to live?
Now you’re crediting me with your strawmen? I’m not flattered, as much as you might think I should be.
//Government, as it exists should atleast take care of those they rule over. They take their money and demand they obey certain rules they decide on. We have a right to demand that our well being is looked after by our ‘benefactors’
You have a nuttily non-American way of looking of democracy (well, in our case, a democratic republic).
If by non-American you mean someone who spent 4 years in the Us army infantry and thinks people have a right to live when they become sick, then you definitely have my number.
/I’m that kinda bleeding heart pus
a democratic republic
I don’t understand these types of comments, so help me out. Has there ever been a dictatorial Republic or Fascist Republic. The two terms ‘democrat’ and ‘Republic’ are not as vastly expansive as MSNBC or Foxnews would have you believe after 8PM on weeknights. DO you realize they have succesfully gotten all those who have an interest in politics in this country to choose a side kick their line in the sand? You know we all have more in common than disagreements.
/It’s TV ladies and gentlemen, make your own opinion off your own findings. Not cause the guy insulted Keith Olbermann or O’Reilly. You really use that to identify yourself as a person..(no question m?rk, cause it’s weak if you need to ponder that as a real question)
So European countries take care of their people? Tell that to the French youths who rioted for two weeks.
Off-topic, I just ran across this on Drudge:
SICKO director Michael Moore pulls out of health care debate against former House Majority Leader Tom Delay that was set happen Sunday morning on ABC’S THIS WEEK WITH GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS. According to Delay’s office, Moore instigated the event but at first withheld a preview copy of SICKO and now has dropped out of the debate completely…
Tom Delay and the Drudge Report focusing on Michael Moore? This should be some hard hitting, no holds barred, in your face, honest journalism.
/lets tune in
Posted by Libertarian Librarian on 06/21/2007 at 02:45 PM
a democratic republic
I don’t understand these types of comments, so help me out. Has there ever been a dictatorial Republic or Fascist Republic. The two terms ‘democrat’ and ‘Republic’ are not as vastly expansive as MSNBC or Foxnews would have you believe after 8PM on weeknights. DO you realize they have succesfully gotten all those who have an interest in politics in this country to choose a side kick their line in the sand? You know we all have more in common than disagreements./It’s TV ladies and gentlemen, make your own opinion off your own findings. Not cause the guy insulted Keith Olbermann or O’Reilly. You really use that to identify yourself as a person..(no question m?rk, cause it’s weak if you need to ponder that as a real question)
/Way off base.
//And it’s really funny too.
/Way off base.
//And it’s really funny too.
You mentioned democratic republics, not me.
You don’t have to get snippy with the messenger. Here’s a link to Delay’s side of the story:
http://www.tomdelay.com/home/2007/6/21/sicko-is-scared-o.html
Librarian, by “non-American,” let me illustrate:
1. The US gov’t does not “rule” over the citizens, despite what leftists might claim. The gov’t IS the citizenry.Government, as it exists should atleast take care of those they rule over. They take their money and demand they obey certain rules they decide on. We have a right to demand that our well being is looked after by our ‘benefactors’
2. The US gov’t does not demand the citizenry obey rules the gov’t decides upon. The gov’t IS the citizenry, who decide upon the rules through their elected representatives.
3. (And this point is up for debate:) The US gov’t isn’t supposed to be a “benefactor” that “looks after” its citizenry.
I’m not the one that backed out of the debate. AND it was with Step-and-fetch-it on ABC known for his hard-hitting, no-holds-barred, in-your-face, honest journalism.
Librarian, you are correct, I should have said “constitutional republic.” But yes, there is a difference between a democracy and a republic. A democracy is, essentially, “mob rule.” A republic involves representatives for that mob. And yes, that is an important distinction that differentiates the Dems and Reps.
Incidentally, I don’t watch Olbermann or O’Reilly, so that part of your stereotype doesn’t apply.
wiserbud, you’re right, I’ve strayed off-topic, and I apologize.
On that note, Librarian, you have my sympathies — I’ve been tax-free for several weeks now.
what is your fellas news forum? I don’t mean that condecendingly. I would like to know where you get your news and absorb your opinions. I been wrong before fellas and I’m not to big to say I might be again, but seriously, and I mean this with the most respect possible on an internet forum, when you say Tom Dealy said this or that. You have to know you’re gonna get laughed at. I didn’t even click the link. He’s a joke. What if I said ‘heres a link from carrot-top on the importance of washing your armpits everyday’ you wouldn’t take it serious and I took your’s so unseriously that I didn’t even click it.
I’ll read things that catch my eye. I am a reader and you could change my mind (I’m not carved out of cement) but why should I care less about the plight of the American family?
I know that question is loaded but that is what the basic premise is. I do not think me as a person should be in any wa responsible for my fellow countryman.
/I do
got that whole post is riddled with typing errors. If any are confusing I’ll fix them for you. I type in the dark without looking. So sorry if my point comes across loosely.
Phony Libertarian. Don’t both apologizing for your typing errors. Your inability to type is not the reason anyone here is going to consider you an idiot. Your views however make that opinion inescapable.
what is your fellas news forum? I don’t mean that condecendingly. I would like to know where you get your news and absorb your opinions.
It’s called the Internet. Look it up.
oh, the intarwebs, I’ll look into that
Believe it or not, most of us get our news from a variety of sources. Again, it doesn’t quite gel with the stereotype, of “getting marching orders from Bill O’Reilly.”
"Absorb our opinions”??? I’m glad you don’t mean to be condescending, but you’re not trying hard enough.
The story is about Tom Delay, not written by him. You’re the laziest librarian I can possibly imagine. “Ahhh, there’s a name in that story I don’t like!!! I’m not gonna read it! I’ll just sit here in the dark and poorly type my misunderstanding about libertarianism!”
I don’t normally make fun of typos, but when you know you have a problem, know that the problem is fixable, and still decline to fix it, you’re going to get at least a little flaming.
What constitutes a variety of sources?
/Hey, low on the spelling errors Seth. I can probably spell better than you in real world situations but I’m just typing my heart out.
/so sorry I misspelled a word and you couldn’t understand me
///This conversation has disintegration written all over it
what is your fellas news forum? I don’t mean that condecendingly. I would like to know where you get your news and absorb your opinions.
A better question might be where do you get your news? From what I can tell you are woefully uninformed about healthcare.
better question might be where do you get your news? From what I can tell you are woefully uninformed about healthcare.
And government
And the definition of libertarian.
It’s not the spelling errors that make you sound senseless. They’re are just annoying, particularly now that I know they’re entirely preventable.
It’s impolite to ask a question before answering the you were asked. This is basic politeness between people.
/I’m a very polite person but I thought I asked first.
Why is medicine 6 pounds in England and hundreds upon hundreds here for the same thing?
What medicine?
I see, that’s why company execs make hundreds of millions of dollars instead of billions. Research and development.
So just how much does Pfizer spend on R&D;every year?
You know what’s doubly spectacular? The CEO’s make out like bandits and the peasantry still gets their medicine.
. . . which was clearly shown to be patently false by TheBoxers on this very thread.
Yahoo News
MSNBC
CNN
LA Times
On the rare occasion: Drudge, BBC, etc.
There are others, of course, as I surf, but those are the ones I check on an almost-daily basis.
Now you may answer Buzz’s questions.
oops, I forgot radio: KABC and KCRW, but those don’t always count as news.
I think LL is having difficulty with my questions. Let me help him out here.
So just how much does Pfizer spend on R&D;every year?
Hint: In 2006, 1/6 the entire GDP of Cuba.
What constitutes a variety of sources?
For starters, the upwards of 4000 news sources in Google News.
For starters.
Do you have a point here? One that constitutes something other than being a smarmy prick?
I think the “Libertarian” part of his screen name is intended to be witty and ironic. This guy thinks that Jim should give back an anonymous gift, but also carries around an enormous sense of entitlement. Apparently, Jim, you should have gotten your twelve thousand dollars from the federal government, that is, from money that was taken from people’s paychecks, instead of accepting a private donation from a person who can afford it hundreds of times over.
My question for Libertarian Librarian is this: Can you show us an example of a successful American government program that redistributes wealth? Essentially, that’s what you’re calling for. Go ahead and pick one. How about welfare? Has it reduced or eliminated poverty? Maybe the public school system? Has it enabled every child to receive a fair and equitable education? How about Social Security? Is there enough money to take care of us when we retire?
What makes you think that socialized medicine would be any different?
Posted by Belcatar on 06/21/2007 at 06:41 PM (Link to this comment)
Apparently, Jim, you should have gotten your twelve thousand dollars from the federal government, that is, from money that was taken from people’s paychecks, instead of accepting a private donation from a person who can afford it hundreds of times over.
Yeah, that would have been totally cool for some reason…
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Moorewatch.com is probably getting a ridiculous amount of traffic right now, after being prominently featured in Michael Moore’s new movie, Sicko. I know that’s what led me to the site. Moorewatch.com is basically devoted to criticism of Mi...Tracked on: Frakintosh! (64.202.165.133) at 2007 06 22 14:28:19
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Where in the movie does he insinuate invisible,juggling pink ponies pay for it? I seen it and absolutely understand the premise. Why is medicine 6 pounds in England and hundreds upon hundreds here for the same thing? Those Brits must be swimming in debt and taking their medicine in alleyways next to the box they sleep on at night. Sucks to take care of your citizenry. It can make you destitute and homeless.