the issue at hand that reduces the legitimacy of your argument is that you state large taxes on gas exist in these regions and then allude to the purpose being to support their health care systems when in fact much of those gas taxes go to support the public transportation in those areas. From your arguments it appears you have deemed the taxes added to their gas as excessive and without warrant. Is it that you find public transportation to be an impractical means of transportation for a community defined by close proximity or do you have a better means of funding this revered resource.

[Edited on May 28, 2008 at 3:56 PM. Reason : .]

5/28/2008 3:54:06 PM

sick burn

5/28/2008 4:06:15 PM

^^ So public transportation is payed for by the people that don't use it?

5/28/2008 4:16:57 PM

sure, if you wish to take a narrow viewpoint on it. but if you'd rather be realistic its clear that the people who use the service also pay for it and that the taxes are use as a deterrent for independent transportation and that people willing choose to pay the taxes for the luxury of independent transportation. which, by some standards, would be more fair than united states federal tax dollars going to thousands of miles of interstate that most citizens won't use, or, to a lesser degree, state taxes to roads in ones own state they won't use. however, i wouldn't necessarily pose either one of those methods of revenue unfair.

5/28/2008 4:53:31 PM

SeriousCat.

So you are suggesting that thier tax on gas doesnt go towards healthcare?

The majority of universal healthcare is funded by tax revenue. Would you agree with that?

And using a 2001 study, here is the average tax:

UK: The total tax wedge is 29.7% for the average wage earner

Denmark: The total tax wedge is 44.2% for the average wage earner

Germany: The total tax wedge is 50.7% for the average wage earner

France: The total tax wedge is 48.3% for the average wage earner

US: The total tax wedge is 30.0% for the average wage earner


http://www.oecd.org/LongAbstract/0,2546,en_2649_201185_1942475_1_1_1_1,00.html

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in
Paris collects this type of comparative income tax data, and has a
long-standing methodology for comparing very different sorts of
systems.

An extensive spreadsheet table comparing income tax "wedges" (as they
are called by the OECD)

"Average personal income tax and social security contribution rates on
gross labour income".


So, you are telling me that these countries PAY more in all sorts of taxes, but Im supposed to ignore what those taxes fund? Come on. And these dont include the gas taxes. See my point?

5/28/2008 5:23:01 PM

5/28/2008 5:39:12 PM

OPERATION MAGICIAN

i must find out

5/28/2008 6:17:12 PM

you implicitly stated through your posts that the taxes you quoted previous to these most recent citations were associated with and in some ways funded the, as you put it, " "free health care" ". I say implicitly because you did not come out and say this directly, but given that the information you quoted was a defensive response to the allegation that you were trying to create a stir and divert this thread off topic your intentions are clear. You can either be big and admit that you were clearly baiting with your initial "free health care post" or you can concede that you attempted to mislead with the information you provided.

all that being said. i agree that there are taxes in those countries that are associated with socialized health care, however, those facts being true doesn't make any of the points i raised above false. You are welcome to pay as much attention as you wish towards what the taxes of those countries are directed, but your point would have a greater impact and your message more clear if you would not operate in non sequitur

5/28/2008 11:47:05 PM

personally i wish gas was at least 11...22/gallon would be better...only way that would affect me is getting rides, which is rare anyways

5/28/2008 11:48:52 PM

SICK... BURN

5/28/2008 11:49:44 PM

5/28/2008 11:50:18 PM

by 2010 we will have plug in cars, where if you just drive like 80 miles a day or so, it just uses the battery, however, longer trips will require gas (so it would switch over). I could get by with 80 miles a day and charge it up at night.

[Edited on May 28, 2008 at 11:53 PM. Reason : w]

5/28/2008 11:53:12 PM

5/28/2008 11:54:20 PM

5/29/2008 12:06:26 AM

^^^ 2010, huh?

5/29/2008 12:16:59 AM

http://www.zenncars.com/

5/29/2008 12:38:26 AM

Quote :

"How will we watch nascar?"

no need to fear rednecks, nascar gets free gas from sunoco.

5/29/2008 12:45:36 AM

I would totally do that!!

6/16/2008 6:09:49 PM

but I thought Europe had it all figured out???

6/16/2008 6:11:39 PM

bttt for tools

7/3/2008 5:03:06 PM

bttt for 20/gallon gas

7/3/2008 5:03:50 PM

so josh, did you get a ride back home?

7/3/2008 5:38:38 PM

Dont worry. The democrats have a plan.

“Democrats have a plan to lower gas prices…join Democrats who are working to lower gas prices now.” – Then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Press Release, April 19, 2006

7/3/2008 5:46:52 PM

7/3/2008 5:59:15 PM

^^^?

7/3/2008 6:05:44 PM

to your parents place, i mean

7/3/2008 6:07:37 PM

oh nah...found out today the parents are going to an orioles game...i'm prolly staying in raleigh and cleaning my apt etc

7/3/2008 6:08:24 PM