Some say: That the Health Care system in the US is hopelessly broken and needs to be replaced with a nationalized system.
Beyond the Headlines: There are definitely problems with Health Care in the United States and much room for improvement, but we need to be careful not to get caught up in emotion and rhetoric and realize what we actually have. I have first-hand experience with nationalized health care in Japan and close family in Taiwan and England. There are strengths and weaknesses to each system. Personally I prefer the US system and feel we get much better care.
What are the real problems in the US anyway? What has been tried elsewhere? I'm reading an interesting book that attempts to debunk myths about US Health Care with some compelling arguments. If you're interested in going beyond the headlines, give it a look. It is available in print and as a free downloadable PDF. The Top Ten Myths of American Health Care: A Citizen's Guide
Monday, March 16, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Is it Discrimination to Prohibit Same Sex Marriage?
Some say: Not letting people of the same sex get married is discrimination.
Beyond the Headlines: In society we formalize some of our interactions in laws and constitutions. Many laws restrict actions that are considered damaging or counterproductive to society. For instance, we have laws restricting motor vehicle use, land development, child abuse, and DUI.
These laws are based on actions and not personal characteristics that may lead to actions. For instance there is no law punishing someone who gets angry easily. If a person controls his anger and does not commit abuse, murder, or similar actions, he is not violating the law. Likewise, someone who likes to drink alcohol is not restricted or discriminated against. However, he is restricted from driving while under the influence of alcohol (even if no property damage or bodily injury occurs). A person may feel discriminated against because he cannot legally drive after a few beers, or when his license is taken away for repeated DUI offenses, but society is not unjustly discriminating against him by having those restrictions on his actions.
Restricting someone with same-sex attraction from entering into same-sex marriage is restriction of an action, not restriction based on a personal characteristic. Same-sex attraction is a personal characteristic, but same-sex marriage is an action, just as liking alcohol is a personal characteristic and DUI is an action.
Prohibiting an action that many consider bad for society is not the same as discriminating against someone for a personal characteristic.
Beyond the Headlines: In society we formalize some of our interactions in laws and constitutions. Many laws restrict actions that are considered damaging or counterproductive to society. For instance, we have laws restricting motor vehicle use, land development, child abuse, and DUI.
These laws are based on actions and not personal characteristics that may lead to actions. For instance there is no law punishing someone who gets angry easily. If a person controls his anger and does not commit abuse, murder, or similar actions, he is not violating the law. Likewise, someone who likes to drink alcohol is not restricted or discriminated against. However, he is restricted from driving while under the influence of alcohol (even if no property damage or bodily injury occurs). A person may feel discriminated against because he cannot legally drive after a few beers, or when his license is taken away for repeated DUI offenses, but society is not unjustly discriminating against him by having those restrictions on his actions.
Restricting someone with same-sex attraction from entering into same-sex marriage is restriction of an action, not restriction based on a personal characteristic. Same-sex attraction is a personal characteristic, but same-sex marriage is an action, just as liking alcohol is a personal characteristic and DUI is an action.
Prohibiting an action that many consider bad for society is not the same as discriminating against someone for a personal characteristic.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Is Senator Bennett a Hypocrite about taxes?
Some say: Senator Bob Bennett is hypocritical because he was hard on Senator Tom Daschle about his income tax problems while owing even more himself.
Beyond the Headlines: Although both men have been in the news about taxes, the circumstances are very different, Recent articles about Senator Bennett seemed designed to stir up controversy by ignoring the differences.
Senator Bennett's tax problem occurred in 2005. At that time, Bennett was an investor in the Anniversary Inn. Due to financial problems the company did not pay property taxes for a number of years. Neither the investors or the company were hiding anything, and eventually the taxes and interest were paid. Although it may be upsetting to those who pay property taxes on time, it is not unusual for businesses to be late on property tax payments, effectively getting "cheap loans." Individuals sometimes do this with their personal property taxes as well, but Bennett is not known to have done this.
Daschle's main tax problem was that on his personal income tax returns in '05, '06 and '07 he did not report as income the value of a car and driver that were provided for him as part of his employment compensation and which he used personally. Without this income, his tax liability was lower. According to the Senate Finance committee, “in June 2008, something made him think that the car service might be taxable, and he disclosed the arrangement to his accountant.” He subsequently filed amended returns and paid the taxes owed. This correction of his taxes did not come until he was preparing for the possibility of a role in a new presidential administration, and Senator Bennett commented that the situation left a "cloud over [Daschle]" and that he needed to drop out of the nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary.
Source - Bennett's tax problems
Source - Cheap Loans
Source - Daschle's tax problems
Beyond the Headlines: Although both men have been in the news about taxes, the circumstances are very different, Recent articles about Senator Bennett seemed designed to stir up controversy by ignoring the differences.
Senator Bennett's tax problem occurred in 2005. At that time, Bennett was an investor in the Anniversary Inn. Due to financial problems the company did not pay property taxes for a number of years. Neither the investors or the company were hiding anything, and eventually the taxes and interest were paid. Although it may be upsetting to those who pay property taxes on time, it is not unusual for businesses to be late on property tax payments, effectively getting "cheap loans." Individuals sometimes do this with their personal property taxes as well, but Bennett is not known to have done this.
Daschle's main tax problem was that on his personal income tax returns in '05, '06 and '07 he did not report as income the value of a car and driver that were provided for him as part of his employment compensation and which he used personally. Without this income, his tax liability was lower. According to the Senate Finance committee, “in June 2008, something made him think that the car service might be taxable, and he disclosed the arrangement to his accountant.” He subsequently filed amended returns and paid the taxes owed. This correction of his taxes did not come until he was preparing for the possibility of a role in a new presidential administration, and Senator Bennett commented that the situation left a "cloud over [Daschle]" and that he needed to drop out of the nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary.
Source - Bennett's tax problems
Source - Cheap Loans
Source - Daschle's tax problems
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Who pays taxes?
Some say: The rich don't pay taxes
Beyond the Headlines: The rich pay the majority of the taxes. Of course they have the majority of the money too, but they pay a higher percentage of the tax than they have of the money. The facts:
In other words, less than half of 1% of the people pay 25% of all the income taxes and have 18% of the taxable income.
Source (2005 IRS data)
Beyond the Headlines: The rich pay the majority of the taxes. Of course they have the majority of the money too, but they pay a higher percentage of the tax than they have of the money. The facts:
- 14% of tax returns have adjusted gross income of $100,000 or more. Those 14% earn 57% of the total taxable income and pay 69% of all personal income tax collected.
- 0.3% of tax returns have adjusted gross income of over $1 Million. Those 0.3% earn 18% of all taxable income and pay 25% of all personal income tax collected.
In other words, less than half of 1% of the people pay 25% of all the income taxes and have 18% of the taxable income.
Source (2005 IRS data)
Shouldn't "they" just give us the bailout money?
Some say: If the government gave citizens the bailout money directly, we'd be able to pay off our mortgages
Beyond the Headlines: Unfortunately it isn't that simple. If a $1 Trillion dollar bailout were divided equally among the 138, 893,908 tax filers in 2007, each filer would get $7199.74 -- not enough to pay off most mortgages. The stimulus packages are supposed to increase credit availability, provide or protect jobs, and increase the cushion available for those in trouble. Making straight cash payouts wouldn't meet the same goals, although some cash is included.
Source
Beyond the Headlines: Unfortunately it isn't that simple. If a $1 Trillion dollar bailout were divided equally among the 138, 893,908 tax filers in 2007, each filer would get $7199.74 -- not enough to pay off most mortgages. The stimulus packages are supposed to increase credit availability, provide or protect jobs, and increase the cushion available for those in trouble. Making straight cash payouts wouldn't meet the same goals, although some cash is included.
Source
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