10-25-2017, 07:14 AM
Well Ben, and this goes for the rest of you Americans on here, I admit I can't really hold a candle to any of you when it comes to US politics. You are all more informed than I am on the issues there. However I do feel that I provide a different perspective. I will try to respond to your latest post, Ben. First of all on healthcare. So fine, what you say is true. However the fact remains that Trump has been trying to *repeal* Obamacare and replace it with new legislation that would insure *less* people for *more* money. If that doesn't scream of right wing partisanship, I really don't know what does. Healthcare in the USA has become a 100% partisan issue. And Trump has been one of the most extreme politicians in the USA on this issue. He even has a lot of people in his own party against him on this issue, notably John McCain.
You say my comment about the education system is bullshit, however it is a fact that Trump's education minister wants charter schools nation wide. Basically parents would be given vouchers to pay a private school for their children's education. So I stand by my comment that she wants to privatize public education in the USA. Perhaps one could argue that it would create a "hybrid" system, but I disagree and I don't think this is a good thing for public education. As Canadians it's nice because we can all watch and learn from what you guys are doing. However if I had kids in the US system right now I would be terrified by what is about to happen. It could go either way and I foresee it ending badly.
As for the tax cuts, from what I understand he has disproportionately benefitted the rich, as a percentage. You are correct that the rich pay more in terms of an absolute sum. But to see them get more tax breaks than people in lower brackets really bothers me, and it should bother 99% of Americans also.
You seem to somewhat agree with me on the other issues. I stand by my belief that Trump is right wing. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing. You guys see him as a populist, I see him as a radical on many levels and in many ways. Disagree if you like, it's just how I see it.
My opinion for what it's worth, and this goes for both the USA and Canada, and the rest of the free world for that matter. CEO salaries need to be capped or else they should be taxed to death. Offshore tax evasion needs to be eliminated completely, with serious jail time for those who try to continue doing it. Those two changes alone are the two biggest social justice issues in terms of the tax code, IMO. I'm still waiting for someone to actually do it. Unfortunately the only people talking about it are on the extreme left of the political spectrum. I would love to see someone moderate have a go at it. I would vote for them.
You say my comment about the education system is bullshit, however it is a fact that Trump's education minister wants charter schools nation wide. Basically parents would be given vouchers to pay a private school for their children's education. So I stand by my comment that she wants to privatize public education in the USA. Perhaps one could argue that it would create a "hybrid" system, but I disagree and I don't think this is a good thing for public education. As Canadians it's nice because we can all watch and learn from what you guys are doing. However if I had kids in the US system right now I would be terrified by what is about to happen. It could go either way and I foresee it ending badly.
As for the tax cuts, from what I understand he has disproportionately benefitted the rich, as a percentage. You are correct that the rich pay more in terms of an absolute sum. But to see them get more tax breaks than people in lower brackets really bothers me, and it should bother 99% of Americans also.
You seem to somewhat agree with me on the other issues. I stand by my belief that Trump is right wing. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing. You guys see him as a populist, I see him as a radical on many levels and in many ways. Disagree if you like, it's just how I see it.
My opinion for what it's worth, and this goes for both the USA and Canada, and the rest of the free world for that matter. CEO salaries need to be capped or else they should be taxed to death. Offshore tax evasion needs to be eliminated completely, with serious jail time for those who try to continue doing it. Those two changes alone are the two biggest social justice issues in terms of the tax code, IMO. I'm still waiting for someone to actually do it. Unfortunately the only people talking about it are on the extreme left of the political spectrum. I would love to see someone moderate have a go at it. I would vote for them.