patrick.net

If the turd won't flush, getting a bigger plunger is nothing more than a pipe dream.

Actually, with my twisted understanding of economics I think mandated health insurance is a perfectly reasonable and effective public policy.

Our financial lives consist of a stack of expenses with differing priorities. By moving health insurance costs AHEAD of the rent/mortgage payment we essentially pull money out of the housing expense bucket and into the health care expense bucket -- dollar for dollar I'd say!

Neoclassicists say there ain't no free lunch, but I think this is an exception.

IOW, mandated health insurance would be awesome, assuming a free market in insurance providers competing for business actually existed. The Canadian plan is actually a mandated plan AFAIK.

^ the success of Social Security savings is similar, too. With the gummint taking the 13% out of wages, people can't use that money to bid up housing any further than they already have. Remove the Social security mandate and we'd all be house rich with no actual savings any more.

Troy says

^ the success of Social Security savings is similar, too. With the gummint taking the 13% out of wages, people can’t use that money to bid up housing any further than they already have. Remove the Social security mandate and we’d all be house rich with no actual savings any more.

I've used that example quite frequently in the recent past as a few of my facebook 'friends' are posting anti-gov rants. As soon as I say, sure let the people keep all of their money. You think they are gonna save it? Nah, I think they are just gonna go out and buy a bigger house and bigger, newer cars as demonstrated by these last ten years of cheap money! We like it now! We like it big!

Usually that ends the discussion.

Switzerland has a mandatory insurance system. It works. Per capita health care costs are half of ours and the population is healthier.

Leigh,

Very good point. In particular, among the tea-party groups there is a big tendency to think "I'd be a raging success if only I did not have to pay any taxes".

No they wouldn't. They would just pay 40% more for a house and get zero infrastructure around it. That;' pretty much the way it would play out.

A little data:
"The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Switzerland expanded at an annual rate of 0.30 percent in the last quarter. Switzerland Gross Domestic Product is worth 488 billion dollars or 0.79% of the world economy, according to the World Bank. Switzerland's economy has low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP among the highest in the world. Its policy of long-term monetary security and bank secrecy has made Switzerland a safe haven for investors, creating an economy that is increasingly dependent on a steady tide of foreign investment. Because of the country's small size and high labor specialization, industry and trade are the keys to Switzerland's economic livelihood. This page includes: Switzerland GDP Growth Rate chart, historical data and news."

And now California:
As of 2007, the gross state product (GSP) is about $1.812 trillion, the largest in the United States. California is responsible for 13 percent of the United States gross domestic product (GDP). As of 2006, California's GDP is larger than all but eight countries in the world (all but eleven countries by Purchasing Power Parity). However, California is facing a $26.3 billion budget deficit for the 2009–2010 budget year.[45] While the legislative bodies had appeared to address the problem in 2008 with the three-month delayed passage of a budget they in fact only postponed the deficit to 2009 and due to the late 2008 decline in the economy and the credit crisis the problem became urgent in November 2008. One problem is that a substantial portion of the state income comes from income taxes on a small proportion of wealthy citizens. For example, in 2004, the richest 3% of state taxpayers paid approximately 60% of all state taxes.[46] The taxable income of this population is highly dependent upon capital gains, which has been severely impacted by the stock market declines of this period. The governor has proposed a combination of extensive program cuts and tax increases to address this problem, but owing to longstanding problems in the legislature these proposals are likely to be difficult to pass as legislation.

State spending increased from $56 billion in 1998 to $131 billion in 2008, and the state was facing a budget deficit of $40 billion in 2008.[47] California is facing another budget gap for 2010,[48] with $72 billion in debt.[49] California's unemployment rate exceeds 12%.[50]

Gross Domestic Product of California by sector for 2008[51]In terms of jobs, the five largest sectors in California are trade, transportation, and utilities; government; professional and business services; education and health services; and leisure and hospitality. In terms of output, the five largest sectors are financial services, followed by trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; government; and manufacturing. California currently has the 4th highest unemployment rate in the nation at 9.3% in December 2008 (12.1% by mid 2009 and continuing to rise), up significantly from 5.9% in 2007.[52]

California's economy is very dependent on trade and international related commerce accounts for approximately one-quarter of the state’s economy. In 2008, California exported $144 billion worth of goods, up from $134 billion in 2007 and $127 billion in 2006.[53] Computers and electronic products are California's top export, accounting for 42 percent of all the state's exports in 2008.[53]

Agriculture remains a very important sector in California's economy. Farming-related sales have more than quadrupled over the past three decades, from $7.3 billion in 1974 to nearly $31 billion in 2004.[54][dated info] This increase has occurred despite a 15 percent decline in acreage devoted to farming during the period, and water supply suffering from chronic instability. Factors contributing to the growth in sales-per-acre include more intensive use of active farmlands and technological improvements in crop production.[54]

Per capita GDP in 2007 was $38,956, ranking eleventh in the nation.[55] Per capita income varies widely by geographic region and profession. The Central Valley is the most impoverished, with migrant farm workers making less than minimum wage. Recently, the San Joaquin Valley was characterized as one of the most economically depressed regions in the U.S., on par with the region of Appalachia.[56] Many coastal cities include some of the wealthiest per-capita areas in the U.S. The high-technology sectors in Northern California, specifically Silicon Valley, in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, have emerged from the economic downturn caused by the dot-com bust. In spring 2005, economic growth had resumed in California at 4.3 percent.[57][not in citation given]

California levies a 9.3 percent maximum variable rate income tax, with six tax brackets. It collects about $40 billion per year in income taxes. California's combined state, county and local sales tax rate is from 7.25 to 9.75 percent.[58][verification needed] The rate varies throughout the state at the local level. In all, it collects about $28 billion in sales taxes per year.[citation needed] All real property is taxable annually, the tax based on the property's fair market value at the time of purchase. This tax does not increase based on a rise in real property values (see Proposition 13). California collects $33 billion in property taxes per year.[citation needed]

In 2009 the California economic crisis became severe as the state faced insolvency.[59][dated info] In June 2009 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said "Our wallet is empty, our bank is closed and our credit is dried up."[60] He called for massive budget cuts of $24 billion, about 1⁄4 of the state's budget.[60]

Ok, now we have some data ... lets talk about illegal immigration and how it effects, gangs, teen moms, full jails, full schools, and social program useage in Swissland and Caliland.
Socialism does not work. Freedom works. Personal accountablitly works. Welfare does not work. Open borders does not work. Liberalism is a mental disorder. Progressives are not smarter than Madison and Franklin.