| >>Ah. The American arrogance shines through. "Government controlling health" and "these lazy Europeans with their 150 days of vacation". Factual statements are not arrogance. >>This is not a safety net. It's the last resort. My point is it should not be considered the "last resort", in fact I think people wait far far far too long to file for bankruptcy. >>Europe has laws around bankruptcy While true, The US is normally cited as creator of personal bankruptcy law, and it used as the benchmark. Changes in the laws in the EU has expanded personal bankruptcy but in many parts of the EU the bankruptcy laws are not as favorable to personal debtors than in the US. >>I don't want to become poor before safety nets kick in. Then it is no longer a safety net... It is just a universal income scheme or outright socialism. >>I don't want to be beholden to my employer for my medical insurance. Nor do I, which is why I support deregulation of the industry, returning to free market principles, and allowing tax exemptions for personally acquired plans instead of only when it is part of an employer plan (and a range of other reforms) instead of just believing the government should provide.... >I don't want to have only 10-14 days on average to spend time with my family or with my kids. Etc. Great, negotiate that with your employer. People that do not have those same priorities should also be free to negotiate what they want which may include less time off. That is what a free society allows for. What you want however is to mandate your preference, believing that is what is best for "everyone" >According to various models, it's anywhere from 30% to 45% of people, with actual numbers probably being worse One of the reasons for that is the "safety net" system which largely punishes people for their success. If the poor attempt to climb out of poverty that system takes away benefits faster then the income is replacing those benefits, literally paying people to stay poor. A better system then this network of misaligned "safety net" programs where the government is providing services or payments to fix specific perceived problems (housing, food, etc) would be a more generalized graduated negative income tax system that phases out as the person makes increasing income. This would have to replace all "safety net" programs, and make people individually responsible which is a negative concept in the modern world. |