Can someone name a country...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you get rid of the healthy middle class and high innovation, there are a number of third world dictatorships that might fit.

this is the answer. There are countries that have some of the features, but none with all features AND a healthy middle class. It does not work!


All the countries suggested thus far either DO have high taxes or are big on social services.

[Anonymous]

Whoever wrote Austria: no that's completely wrong.
Austria is big on social programs, and has universal health insurance.
New Zealand is also big on social programs and health insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That has successfully implemented the ideals of the U.S. Republican party?

That is, has low taxes, few social services, weak/no labor unions, and yet has high wealth, a healthy middle class, and high innovation?

This is a genuine question, I'm not trying to be sarcastic.

united states 1980 to 2008, RIP

[Anonymous]

San Marino has free health care for all it's citizens and individual income tax rates of up to 50%, depending on income (not a tax haven).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That has successfully implemented the ideals of the U.S. Republican party?

That is, has low taxes, few social services, weak/no labor unions, and yet has high wealth, a healthy middle class, and high innovation?

This is a genuine question, I'm not trying to be sarcastic.

united states 1980 to 2008, RIP

you would not describe our taxes as moderate? And our social services also?

No significant change in any items from 2008 to 2009 - come on!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That has successfully implemented the ideals of the U.S. Republican party?

That is, has low taxes, few social services, weak/no labor unions, and yet has high wealth, a healthy middle class, and high innovation?

This is a genuine question, I'm not trying to be sarcastic.

united states 1980 to 2008, RIP

Republicans apparently have death panels now. Why do you hate America?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That has successfully implemented the ideals of the U.S. Republican party?

That is, has low taxes, few social services, weak/no labor unions, and yet has high wealth, a healthy middle class, and high innovation?

This is a genuine question, I'm not trying to be sarcastic.

united states 1980 to 2008, RIP

You are WRONG.

Top Income tax rates:
39.6 percent: Top tax rate in 2000
31 percent: Top tax rate in 1991
50 percent: Top tax rate in 1986
70 percent: Top tax rate in 1980
91 percent: Top tax rate in 1963

Labor unions were also not at their peak in 1980, but were still relatively strong. Wikipedia says the percent of employees in labor unions in 1980 was around 20%. Today it is around 10.

[Anonymous]

Are the people who are insisting that the U.S. is the exception to the rule essentially admitting that they have no examples?

And if this is the case, why should we accept the policies of the last three decades when by the end of 2008, they failed us and our children? Inequality has risen, the middle class is desperate, healthcare is a mess, the debt and deficit are out of control, we're embroiled in a catastrophic war in Afghanistan, unemployment skyrocketed under Bush, and what have we got to show for it? With the confidence that America was going to play world police, Europeans got universal healthcare and good educations. We got screwed. It's time for Republicans to experience a few decades as a minority party and let us catch up with the rest of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or we could name the European countries that espouse the endless social programs the Dems do, and talk about how well those countries are doing right now.

Hello, Greece, line 1.

One of Greece's problems is massive tax evasion, so we can't say that it has high taxes, since everyone underreports/doesn't report their income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you get rid of the healthy middle class and high innovation, there are a number of third world dictatorships that might fit.

this is the answer. There are countries that have some of the features, but none with all features AND a healthy middle class. It does not work!


All the countries suggested thus far either DO have high taxes or are big on social services.

Hong Kong and Singapore do not have high taxes. Top (progressive) rate is 17% in HK and 20% in Singapore. Excellent transport and public healthcare systems as well. But other Govt services are extremely slimmed down relative to the West.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the people who are insisting that the U.S. is the exception to the rule essentially admitting that they have no examples?

And if this is the case, why should we accept the policies of the last three decades when by the end of 2008, they failed us and our children? Inequality has risen, the middle class is desperate, healthcare is a mess, the debt and deficit are out of control, we're embroiled in a catastrophic war in Afghanistan, unemployment skyrocketed under Bush, and what have we got to show for it? With the confidence that America was going to play world police, Europeans got universal healthcare and good educations. We got screwed. It's time for Republicans to experience a few decades as a minority party and let us catch up with the rest of the world.

Exactly. Get this straight, conservatives - Democrats love this country deeply. But American Exceptionalism is STRAIGHT. UP. BULLSHIT. We are not so special that we get to eschew commonly held principals about economics, government and society. You people have diseased minds, IMO. We - Democrats - want the country to work for the vast majority - not for the lucky few.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That has successfully implemented the ideals of the U.S. Republican party?

That is, has low taxes, few social services, weak/no labor unions, and yet has high wealth, a healthy middle class, and high innovation?

This is a genuine question, I'm not trying to be sarcastic.

united states 1980 to 2008, RIP

We are the country. And no, we are not self-deporting. We will regear for 20016. We fight, get beat, rise up and fight again--Nathaneal Greene. Thank god for our American democracy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That has successfully implemented the ideals of the U.S. Republican party?

That is, has low taxes, few social services, weak/no labor unions, and yet has high wealth, a healthy middle class, and high innovation?

This is a genuine question, I'm not trying to be sarcastic.

united states 1980 to 2008, RIP

We are the country. And no, we are not self-deporting. We will regear for 20016. We fight, get beat, rise up and fight again--Nathaneal Greene. Thank god for our American democracy.

Yes PP!! AU Park will rise up!! God Bless America!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That has successfully implemented the ideals of the U.S. Republican party?

That is, has low taxes, few social services, weak/no labor unions, and yet has high wealth, a healthy middle class, and high innovation?

This is a genuine question, I'm not trying to be sarcastic.

United States had implemented many if these. It was unique in the world. And abeacon of freedom and prosperity.

[Anonymous]

Ok, so that's the final answer? America is "exceptional?"

We SHOULD be subsidizing the education and healthcare of Europeans with our colossal military?