for those who want to reduce government services - what country is your model?

[Anonymous]

the problem with the US government is that we get very little for the money. Other countries provide much much more (e.g. "free" healthcare and college) for much less....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the problem with the US government is that we get very little for the money. Other countries provide much much more (e.g. "free" healthcare and college) for much less....

And yet The Swamp has become much more powerful and wealthier under the current POTUS.

Looking at the Swiss model, there really isn't anything that "free." People have to pay for their own healthcare and education past the age of 18. Driving and fuel are taxed to appropriately make you incur the cost of your car, pollution, and road usage. But the government there takes active steps to keep companies and individuals conforming with the law; they government creates incentives to keep costs down and to encourage people to not frivolously consume healthcare or education. The law is enforced and deviations from social codes (noise complaints, sorting your trash properly) are punished effectively and quickly.

The U.S. could do the same too, but Congress won't allow it to happen. The U.S. system is embedded with so many special interests who don't want to pay for the externalities they impose on others, want to have monopoly powers without oversight, gut the budgets of agencies would conduct real oversight, etc. As a country, we have a very weak social contract and have no qualms with "sticking it" to our fellow citizens.

There's a very real element of criminality, under-handedness, and back-stabbing that is associated with American capitalism and power dynamics. Like I said, there's a lot of Americans who seem to confuse "freedom" with lawlessness. And if you don't like the law, you just pay the lawmakers to change it for you so you're in compliance. It's gross and uncivilized.

[Anonymous]

Sticking it to fellow citizens pretty much sums up what you want to do. Step back and read what you wrote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One could look at Singapore or Switzerland, but they are very small countries.

They are also countries with very strong Nanny States that regulate nearly every part of your day to day life. You get fined for EVERYTHING in Switzerland and Singapore.

Here’s a good example: trash bags. In Switzerland, the only trash bags you are allowed to buy are those with a tax-paid tag. Each trash bag costs you around $5 USD in order to ensure that you personally incur the costs for your waste. If you accidentally place a recyclable item in the waste trash bag, that is also a fine (around $50 USD). Public wastebaskets are also pretty rare in Switzerland. I’ve carried around my garbage (eg, an empty side can) for the better part of a day because there is a real cost ($5 garbage bags) for businesses to provide garbage service to the public.

Americans would be shocked at how well certain counties enforce their rules and laws. That’s the biggest inconsistency with America: we claim to love freedom and capitalism, but we throw a hissy fit when someone tries to make us pay for the externalities we impose upon others. That doesn’t happen in Switzerland or Singapore. You pay for ANY resource you use.

It costs five dollars to get rid of a trash bag? Really

Seems arbitrary. You are why people detest central government planning.

[Anonymous]

By the way, I can assure you a tutte in Switzerland is not five dollars. It is about 20 cents. Check Rewe or your favorite chain.

[Anonymous]

Where did you get a single use plastic bag in Switzerland costs around 5 dollars.

So much misinformation. It is about ten centimes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Switzerland is a model for what the government can do to facilitate excellent and dependable public transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question for people who don't believe government should provide a safety net, health care, etc. What nation is your model for this? Is there a country (or even a U.S. state) where reducing basic services and the social safety net has produced a thriving populace and healthy economy?

You think the United States got to be the most powerful country in the nation by having an abundance of social programs? I support a safety net, but not a cushy one. I don't see why we have to look at any other country since our own past history in this context and regard gives us so much good evidence.

[Anonymous]

Is there anywhere in the world with a lobbying/special interest industry even close to ours?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where did you get a single use plastic bag in Switzerland costs around 5 dollars.

So much misinformation. It is about ten centimes!

When I was in Basel, the Bebbi Sagg cost nearly $5 each for a large roll (33 francs for 10 bags). This was right after the SNB dropped the peg to the Euro and the Franc appreciated rapidly against both the EUR and USD. In Basel, your garbage will not be picked up unless is was placed in an official blue Bebbi Sagg bag.

Other cantons have different policies, so I am not familiar with those.

[Anonymous]

Somalia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question for people who don't believe government should provide a safety net, health care, etc. What nation is your model for this? Is there a country (or even a U.S. state) where reducing basic services and the social safety net has produced a thriving populace and healthy economy?

You think the United States got to be the most powerful country in the nation by having an abundance of social programs? I support a safety net, but not a cushy one. I don't see why we have to look at any other country since our own past history in this context and regard gives us so much good evidence.

We had several factors in our favor. Social safety net probably did not play a major role either way, but I know some people argue that it does. I really doubt it though. For years the Soviet Union was the second most powerful country in the world despite the huge disadvantages of it's political and economic system. Now China is catching up to us, with yet another type of system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question for people who don't believe government should provide a safety net, health care, etc. What nation is your model for this? Is there a country (or even a U.S. state) where reducing basic services and the social safety net has produced a thriving populace and healthy economy?

You think the United States got to be the most powerful country in the nation by having an abundance of social programs? I support a safety net, but not a cushy one. I don't see why we have to look at any other country since our own past history in this context and regard gives us so much good evidence.

The US became an industrial and military power when labor was cheap worldwide. If you lost a kid or two to industrial accidents, you had 5 more to spare. The US became a world power when we had cholera, smallpox, polio, and low life expectancy. We don’t want those living conditions ever again.

[Anonymous]

Switzerland basically tackled and won the war on opioids by investing in treatment. Not exactly the direction our country is going on solving anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Switzerland basically tackled and won the war on opioids by investing in treatment. Not exactly the direction our country is going on solving anything.

Socialists. All headed for hell.