Bernie Sanders: Americans 'will be delighted to pay more in taxes' for free health care, education

[Right_in_Virginia]

Bernie Sanders: Americans 'will be delighted to pay more in taxes' for free health care, education
Fox News, Jun 13, 2019

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, continued to defend Democratic socialism and argued that Americans would be "delighted to pay more in taxes" if his policies are carried out.

On Wednesday, Sanders attempted to sway voters into the ideology of Democratic socialism and argued in favor for what he called an "Economic Bill of Rights," where every American would have a right for items like free health care and education. He also insisted that President Trump is a "corporate socialist" for providing billions in subsidies and tax breaks for corporations.

During an appearance on CNN, the Democratic candidate was asked how he will respond to Trump's attacks on the campaign trail, specifically when the president invokes Venzuela as an example of failed socialism.

"Look, what we have to understand, for example... the United States is the only major country on Earth not to guarantee health care to all people as a right," Sanders explained. "In many countries in Europe, Germany for one, you go to college and the cost of college is zero. I think in Finland they actually pay you to go to college. In most countries around the world the level of income and wealth inequality, which in the United States today is worse than at anytime since the 1920s... that level of income and wealth inequality is much less severe than it is right here in the United States."

"But as you know, the taxes in many of those countries are much higher than they are- the individual and personal tax, are much higher than they are in the United States," Cooper told the 2020 candidate.


More:  https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bernie-sanders-americans-will-be-delighted-to-pay-more-in-taxes-for-free-health-care-education

[LMAO]

If you have to pay more for his policies, how are they “free?”

Besides, despite his claim, the evidence suggests otherwise.  However, if he were to say that Americans would be delighted to have their neighbor pay more taxes,  he would be more accurate

[Jazzhead]

One problem with our tax system, at least on the federal level,  is that about half of us have little or no skin in the game,  due to folks with lower incomes paying little or no federal income taxes and (other than Social Security taxes)  contributing little to support entitlements.    The Dems seem to think the solution is to tax the rich,  but expanded entitlements such as exist in Europe are funded by broad based taxes on consumption (e.g. the VAT)  that impact everyone who spends money.   

We cannot expand the entitlement state unless every American who works and/or consumes pays into it,  on a sustained and permanent basis.     I think there is a conservative argument for nationalizing health care financing,  in part because it will end the current employer-based funding system, and in part because there's a chance the collection of tax revenue can be made more equitable by basing it on consumption rather than income.   Of course,  the reality is that taxes on consumption won't replace income taxes, they will only supplement them.   

[txradioguy]

Socialism is always for "the people" never for the Socialists.

[skeeter]

One problem with our tax system, at least on the federal level,  is that about half of us have little or no skin in the game,  due to folks with lower incomes paying little or no federal income taxes and (other than Social Security taxes)  contributing little to support entitlements.    The Dems seem to think the solution is to tax the rich,  but expanded entitlements such as exist in Europe are funded by broad based taxes on consumption (e.g. the VAT)  that impact everyone who spends money.   

QFT the beneficiaries of government largess never met a tax increase they didn't like.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I think there is a conservative argument for nationalizing health care financing, 

There is a conservative argument for the federal government taking control of almost 20% of the gross domestic product? 

There is a conservative argument for the federal government taking control of to who and when health care will be delivered? 

There is a conservative argument for the federal government taking control of the location and number of health care facilities and providers?

There is a conservative argument for removing competition and replacing it with government set price controls throughout the healthcare system?

Hmmm.... I must have missed the memo with the new definition of conservative.   

[The_Reader_David]

Riiiight....

"Free" health care that makes a visit to the doctor the equivalent of a visit to the DMV.  I've lived in Canada and have a daughter who lived in the UK.  Knowing "free" government health insurance in the first case and "free" government health care in the second case close up makes me object even more to paying higher taxes than the mere prospect of higher taxes.

As talking points for our side against government services of any sort:  do you want the (DMV, cops, case workers) in charge of whatever the service is?  The prospect of effectively having the cops as your landlord finally put off my younger son from advocacy of free socialized housing.
The pro-socialism millennials are almost all very anti-police, and everyone is anti-DMV.  Reminding them that whatever the want the government to provide paid by tax revenues will be provided in fact by a bureaucracy that is very police- or DMV-like will probably put them off of wanting anything "free", except maybe free tuition at public universities, where asking whether they really want college to be more like high school might do the trick.

[Sanguine]

Bernie must still be trippin'.

[Millee]

How many of these delighted Americans refuse their tax returns every year?  I'm sure every democrat does. 

[aligncare]

I’m 68, no health problems, I eat right and exercise regularly, my weight-to-height is insurance-chart perfect.

Why should I be penalized with higher taxes to pay for others’ poor lifestyle choices?

[dfwgator]

If you think healthcare is expensive now, just wait until it's free.

[Jazzhead]

There is a conservative argument for the federal government taking control of almost 20% of the gross domestic product? 

There is a conservative argument for the federal government taking control of to who and when health care will be delivered? 

There is a conservative argument for the federal government taking control of the location and number of health care facilities and providers?

There is a conservative argument for removing competition and replacing it with government set price controls throughout the healthcare system?

Hmmm.... I must have missed the memo with the new definition of conservative.   

Fair questions,  @Right_in_Virginia , that deserve a more comprehensive response than I have time for now.   I work daily with the current employer-based health care financing system,  and recognize what a drag it is on both employment and wages.   Companies should be freed to make widgets,  not run health care plans.   Or at least those health care plans should not be the drags on economic growth they are now.   

It should go without saying that I do not support "Medicare for all" or the sort of socialist, lowest common denominator system that Sanders want.   I have thought a long time about the sort of public/private "hybrid" system that can preserve the good aspects of the current system (e.g., its encouragement of medical innovation)  while relieving the enormous cost on employers and the stress on ordinary Americans whose health care is inextricably tied to their jobs.    If folks are interested,  I would be pleased to describe the hybrid system I think could work, and the taxes that would be required to support it.   Of course, if I get the usual snark,  that's okay too - I have plenty of better things to do.   

[austingirl]

The government does very little in a competent manner. The bloated bureaucracy dilutes the money designated for any stated purpose. I heard a statistic that one dollar in the private economy equates seven dollars spent by the government. Why would we want to give more money to an inefficient entity?

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Lying again, Bernie?

You know very well the people who agree to pay more in taxes are not taxpayers at all, just your voters who are mostly in the bottom half that pay nothing and receive the goodies off the backs of the workers of America.

[txradioguy]

Lying again, Bernie?

You know very well the people who agree to pay more in taxes are not taxpayers at all, just your voters who are mostly in the bottom half that pay nothing and receive the goodies off the backs of the workers of America.

If they can ever get the people who don't pay anything to 51% then the 49% that do work and pay taxes will be owned like property by the 51% that pay nothing.

[Applewood]

Lying again, Bernie?

You know very well the people who agree to pay more in taxes are not taxpayers at all, just your voters who are mostly in the bottom half that pay nothing and receive the goodies off the backs of the workers of America.

A friend of mine is a Bernie supporter.  She does not pay income taxes.  But I have tried to explain to her that sooner or later, under a socialist system, she will still be paying for that "free stuff."  Income taxes won't be enough.  There will be sales taxes and a bunch of other taxes that, even if she isn't paying them directly, they will be somehow be factored into the cost of everything she buys. 

But this all goes over my friend's head, as it does with every other "free stuff" fan.    They hear the word "free" and they tune out the rest. 

[mystery-ak]

 By Ryan Saavedra
@realsaavedra
June 12, 2019

Democrat presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said on Wednesday night during a CNN interview that "a lot of people" would love to pay more in taxes if it meant that they got government-run health care.

"But as you know, the taxes in many of those countries are much higher than they are in individual and personal tax are much higher than they are in the United States," CNN's Anderson Cooper said.

"Yeah, but I suspect that a lot of people in the country would be delighted to pay more in taxes if they had comprehensive health care as a human right," Sanders responded. "I live 50 miles away from the Canadian border. You go to the doctor any time you want. You don't take out your wallet. You have heart surgery, you have a heart transplant and you come out of the hospital and it costs you nothing."

more
https://www.dailywire.com/news/48352/bernie-lot-people-country-would-be-delighted-pay-ryan-saavedra

[Maj. Bill Martin]

I think what he really meant was that a lot of people in this country would be delighted if other people paid more in taxes.  Because the truth is that 45% of the country doesn't pay a penny in federal income taxes as it is, and Bernie has proposed nothing to change that.

[jafo2010]

The Democommies have gone communist, and that is the ONLY reason someone like Sanders is appealing.  He is a lunatic on his best day!

[dfwgator]

I think what he really meant was that a lot of people in this country would be delighted if other people paid more in taxes.  Because the truth is that 45% of the country doesn't pay a penny in federal income taxes as it is, and Bernie has proposed nothing to change that.

"Don't Tax You, Don't Tax Me,  Tax That Guy Behind the Tree!"

[Cyber Liberty]

That would make a great Bernie Bumper sticker.  Do it! Feel the Bern!

[Hoodat]

This were true they would be doing it already.

[mountaineer]

He really is an anal orifice (pardon my French).

[Wingnut]

He really is an anal orifice (pardon my French).

With anal leakage.

[Cyber Liberty]

With anal leakage.

I miss the Olestra.