I understand that the government needs tax money. Bush, however, is using a different method for increasing the revenue the government gains.
I also understand you're offering your perspective and not trying to attack me personally.
Basic Economics: There are 2 ways to get money. Charge a high price and sell few items or charge a low price and sell many items.
There is a tricky midpoint where the 2 intersect, maximizing profit.
Or, if I could use an alternate example:
Ever play SimCity 2000? What happens when you raise taxes too high? Businesses move out. People leave and revenue drops. What happens when you decrease taxes? Well, if you go too low, you cannot pay your operating costs. If you find a middle point, you maximize income.
Sometimes, you have to decrease your taxes too much to encourage growth. You may have some losses in the short-term, but long-term, you're city is growing and you may be able to raise taxes a point ot 2 without them getting mad and leaving.
As far as outsourcing is concerned, let me ask you...no, I think challenge you would be a better wording, to find out how many jobs have been insourced.
How many Honda and Toyota plants are in the US? What about Daimler-Chryster? Those are 3 major foreign companies that employ thousands of Americans.
It could be tough, and I'm not going to say that there are MORE insourced than outsourced, but it should be something worth looking at.
While you're looking, see how many Heinz factories are outside the US.
As for the rest, about corporations in general.
Let's say we have a Company. The numbers are completely made up.
This company employs 100 union workers at a cost of $300 per person per week. $30,000 per week.
This company has an income of $35,000 per week, pays $1500 in taxes per week, and wishes to maintain a 10% profit, $3500 per week.
Now, Kerry comes along and raises taxes for them. They now pay $3000 in taxes, double what they payed before.
They have several options:
1. they could reduce their profit margin to $2000 per week
2. they could cut salaries across the board by $15 per week (to $285)
3. they could cut staff by 5 people.
Now, Option 1 hurts the company's ability to expand, to make capital improvements if necessary, and survive if something causes their business to drop. Options 2 hurts all the workers and option 3 hurts 5 workers.
Which is the best option?
By keeping taxes low, you encourage companies to grow, become better, employ more people, and ultimately, that helps the worker and the consumer.
Rights:
Alright. I agree that people deserve rights...but what about the polgamist in Utah? He's gotten in trouble because of his lifestyle, but he should be protected, right?
If 2 men or 2 women can get married, why not 1 man and 5 women? What about 2 men and 1 woman? What about a boy and his dog? A middle-aged woman and a banana (sorry for the mental picture).
Welcome to Pandora's box.
Now, the last time I heard anything, and I don't know if this is 100% fact or not, the consitutional amendment would say Marriage is between a man and a woman, but would leave it to the states to decide on civil unions, which, from what I understand, grant many of the privileges that you brought up.
Health Care: Little personal history about myself. I have not, in 6 years working here at the library, missed a day because I was sick. In 4.5 years of college, I missed maybe 2-3 days for medical reasons...wisdom teeth surgically removed. After I got out of college and before I was put on full-time at the library, I was paying $50 per month for coverage that I ended up never using.
I can only go on what I have heard for my opinions. What I've heard is:
1. the health system Kerry wants is similar to that of Canada.
1a. In Canada, the average time waiting for hip replacement surgery is 52 weeks...or 22 weeks if you go to a back-alley clinic. I heard this stat on the radio this morning. If you do a search for 'canada hip replacement surgery waiting time' on Google, you can find some sites that coroborate.
2. That Kerry's plan will cost several trillion dollars over the next 10 years. That money doesn't grow n trees, so Kerry has to raise taxes to get it. See the information above for tax discussion.
3. Bush's plan gives the people an option, using those medical savings accounts.
Why do premiums go up? Because insurance companies have to be paying out so much.
What if you pay cash for some of your medical visits? Insurance companies DON'T have to pay out, so premiums don't go up...or at least don't go up as fast (and you never know, they might go down).
On a related note to the health issue is the medical malpractice issue. Bush wants to put caps on malpractice settlements, which will in turn help to reduce malpractice insurance, which will lower doctors costs, hence lowers their fees, which reduces how much insurance companies have to pay out, which may lower premiums and that helps the average man.