>>>>>>I think those who have more have an obligation to carry more of the burden of these common costs, so I believe in progressive taxation.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Clearly, in the scenario, family 3 is going to come out much better all around, but a well-structured tax system (and that's not what we have now) will ask them to pay a higher proportion of income than the guy in the middle. The one at the bottom should be paying nothing or a token amount (because people value what they pay for more than what they get for free).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Tamar
>>>>>
>>>>>Ok, I don't have a lot of argument with that, as long as the progressive tax is based on gross, and not net of loopholes and tax shelters. However, I think a flat tax, being much simpler, would have a much better chance of being administered properly, and as such would be more likely to work smoothly.
>>>>
>>>>I'm close to agreeing with you, except that I can see too many situations where gross income is a terrible misrepresentation, such as a family with a seriously disabled child (and I know several of them). Now, of course, if our society operated as it should, having a disabled child or someone with a serious illness wouldn't be a huge financial burden, but at least in the US today, it is. (Seems to me I've read that medical expenses are one of the largest causes of personal bankruptcy.)
>>>>
>>>>Tamar
>>>
>>>I sometimes wonder just how apocryphal is the story of the person who, after heart surgery, gets the hospital bill and has a heart attack.
>>
>>There's a big news story over here at the moment anbout Giuliani using the NHS here in his campaign
>>
>>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2781602.ece
>>
>>guess thats hilary gets elected then :-)
>>
>>at least Bill Clinton gets back near the seat of power. Lets all breath a sigh of relief.
>
>I know you Brits love a good Monarchy, but I for one am looking forward to being rid of a 2 family system. It's been 20 years for Christ's sake! 28 if you GHWB's time as VP. Enough!


There's a lot to be said for letting the experts drive. Instead of the new fresh faced kid who looks good but runs you off the road.

US monarchy ? I think you're pretty much there already.