01-09-2009, 10:02 AM
Quote:So I am for larger government. We may not want to be France, but they've got a lotta shit I would like to have (like five vacation weeks a year and free college).
First of all, if you honestly believe that these benefits are free to the French, you're sadly misguided and desperately naive. The French pay out the ass in taxes to cover all of these expenses. Don't believe me? Here's a link to their tax page:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.cic.fr/en/bank/personal-banking/settling-in-france/tax-system-in-france/index.html">https://www.cic.fr/en/bank/personal-ban ... index.html</a><!-- m -->
Quote:I understand what you're saying, but right now we need government-supported jobs just to keep the economy going. If no one is working, they can't buy stuff and blah blah blah.
Quote:We may not want to be France, but they've got a lotta shit I would like to have (like five vacation weeks a year and free college).
Which is it? High unemployment results in the collapse of the financial sector, or you want five weeks off? It can't be both.
Third, why is it that the only jobs you're allowing for are government jobs? What has the government run efficiently in the 200+ years we've had one?
Fourth, and most important - if you want that stuff that the French have, but don't have the fortitude to move to France where you can get it, might I remind you that you can get almost anything you want right here in this country. Go get it. Start a company that is successful enough that you're able to take five weeks off. Go for it. You can do anything you want. Why does the government have to provide it for you?
Fifth, it is imperative to always remember: GOVERNMENT HAS NO ASSETS OF IT'S OWN. Any time the government wants to provide you with something, I want you to remember that it's being paid for by the taxpayers. Government doesn't OWN anything, so they can't GIVE YOU anything. If you're getting it "for free", it is because you've already paid for it.