Wikileaks - Why Is China Buying Gold?

Not to support the existing north american medical system because I too feel it has become more of a business than an essential service, but in the case of CT scans, do take into account the cost for developing, manufacturing, and maintain the 6 figure machine, let alone paying for the salaries of technicians that had to go through years of schooling to be able to correctly read the CT.



This argument is getting my head spinning... Dollar worth less and we have more to buy to maintain our 2011 standard living? Dollar worth less SO we have a better standard of living?
In the perfect world would the dollar be worth the same (at least stable inflation) while the standard of living increases?

These off-topic threads are a fun read :)

Well, it goes like this. First, the CT machine itself probably costs in excess of a million dollars, so not every hospital has one. Second, the person running it is an MD with additional training in using the machine, interpreting the results that it gives, and in determining when the results are valid. None of this comes cheap. If the CT scan results in a treatment regimen that saves your life, that $1500 will seem insignificant by comparison. Not in your case? Maybe not but in MANY others, it is.

There is no doubt that medical care is very expensive these days. Hospitals often have to treat dead-beat patients, usually in their E-rooms, so must make up those losses from the patients who do pay their bills. This is an aspect of the current medical care system that is in serious need of change. Health care is not free and it should not be treated by some as if it was, requiring others to pay for it.

Even if wages kept even, you are losing ground because of "bracket creep" and more and more taxes.

@nod

The 1980s are only part of the picture. Look at the big picture going back to 1913 when income taxes started. During that time total taxes on average percentagewise have gone up with little blips here and there where they took a dip.

I don't think the government should have the right to tax your income. Why should my money be sent over to foreign banks or to someone living off foodstamps because they don't want to get a job and earn they're own money. I should be able to keep the fruits of my labor or at least have a say in where it gets redristributed.

@nod

You are still not looking at the big picture. I said "total taxes", not just income taxes. Probably the closest comparison would be as a percent of GDP, however that does not include a lot of taxes that are called "fees", etc. Not all fees qualify as taxes, but any part of a fee not used for the administration of what the fee is for is a tax which is shifted to other uses just like a tax.

The gubmint keeps juggling the numbers to keep the people quiet. If too many people complain about a tax, it is usually lowered while some other hidden tax is increased making the net effect higher taxes.

Also, your figures fail to take into consideration the so-called loopholes that keep changing.

Bottom line is comparison of RATES is MEANINGLESS. The only thing that matters is what is actually paid. Buffett is a prime example. His tax RATE is 33%, but he actually paid about half of that. While his staff with RATES far below him actually paid a HIGHER rate of tax than he did.

Buffet earns the majority of his money from the capital gains that his investments throw off. That rate is 15% and it effectively lowers his total rate considerably. Personally, I would tax cap gains as income, EXCEPT for the first $50k (indexed to inflation) so that Gram and Gramps can earn a little money to supplement their retirement funds. Guys like Buffet and other billionaire hedge fund managers do not need to collect billions of dollars upon which they pay only a 15% cap gains tax rate.

Buffet often speaks about "people like me should pay more in taxes". OK, Warren, I have a clue for you... stop paying that small army of tax accountants and tax attorneys to reduce your taxes and the amount you pay WILL increase. Failing that, you can send a check in any additional amount you think is fair and the US Treasury WILL cash the check and keep the money. There... the "problem" is now solved and without any government intervention at all.