On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:55:34 -0500, Warp wrote:

> scott <sco### [at] laptopcom> wrote:
>> Fair if you could have avoided the accident (eg by going slower or not
>> following so closely).  If it was completely unavoidable then I can see
>> your point, but who else is going to pay for it?  That's what insurance
>> is for.
> 
>   That's why we pay exorbitant taxes.

What is the average tax rate in Finland?  Here in the US it's around 30% 
(it's broken out by tiers, so it varies from person to person, along with 
exemptions and so on - I wish it were simpler).

Jim

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On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:13:18 -0500, Warp wrote:

> Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
>> So, yeah, somebody has to pay for it, so?  Life isn't "fair".  You
>> catch a serious disease, you have to pay to get cured too.
> 
>   Not if you live in Canada, Cuba, Finland, or basically any western
> country which is not the US. ;)

Um, the doctors get paid, don't they?  Yes?  Then you're paying, money 
doesn't grow on trees.

Jim

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Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> >   That's why we pay exorbitant taxes.

> What is the average tax rate in Finland?  Here in the US it's around 30% 

  I suppose it's something like that. Perhaps a bit higher.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:13:18 -0500, Warp wrote:

> > Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
> >> So, yeah, somebody has to pay for it, so?  Life isn't "fair".  You
> >> catch a serious disease, you have to pay to get cured too.
> > 
> >   Not if you live in Canada, Cuba, Finland, or basically any western
> > country which is not the US. ;)

> Um, the doctors get paid, don't they?  Yes?  Then you're paying, money 
> doesn't grow on trees.

  Yes, through taxes. That's what they are for.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:27:21 -0500, Warp wrote:

> Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
>> On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:13:18 -0500, Warp wrote:
> 
>> > Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
>> >> So, yeah, somebody has to pay for it, so?  Life isn't "fair".  You
>> >> catch a serious disease, you have to pay to get cured too.
>> > 
>> >   Not if you live in Canada, Cuba, Finland, or basically any western
>> > country which is not the US. ;)
> 
>> Um, the doctors get paid, don't they?  Yes?  Then you're paying, money
>> doesn't grow on trees.
> 
>   Yes, through taxes. That's what they are for.

Ding ding ding ding ding!  We have a winner. :-)

You pay taxes, I pay an insurance premium.  Either way, you and I both 
pay to get cured.

Jim

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Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> You pay taxes, I pay an insurance premium.  Either way, you and I both 
> pay to get cured.

  Except that the tax is a certain % of your income while an insurance
is usually a fixed amount of money. To some people this fixed amount may
be very large compared to their income (which may be next to zero).
Paying taxes could be a much better way for them.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:40:32 -0500, Warp wrote:

> Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
>> You pay taxes, I pay an insurance premium.  Either way, you and I both
>> pay to get cured.
> 
>   Except that the tax is a certain % of your income while an insurance
> is usually a fixed amount of money. 

Depends on the program you enroll in.  There's also a deduction on my pay 
for Medicare, which is a percentage and IIRC also applies to those who 
can't afford insurance.

> To some people this fixed amount may
> be very large compared to their income (which may be next to zero).
> Paying taxes could be a much better way for them.

I don't entirely disagree - I think our system over here could definitely 
use some reform.

Jim

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Tom Austin wrote:
> Here is the US the cost for tax money is much lower because so many 
> things are not government run - health care, rescue and ambulance, tow 
> truck service, etc...

Tom, "the people" end up paying, whether its through taxes, or insurance 
hikes, or higher healthcare rates...

No matter what happens, "someone" has to pay, and that "someone" is 
usually you and I.

-- 
...Ben Chambers
www.pacificwebguy.com

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Darren New wrote:
> If it's a collision between cars, then somebody (or multiple somebodies) 
> is at fault.

Note here that they're always called "collisions", and never "accidents" 
anymore.  The underlying assumption is that there is *always* someone at 
fault (even if the fault is only that they were stupid enough to be out 
driving in such bad conditions).

-- 
...Ben Chambers
www.pacificwebguy.com

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scott wrote:
> Of course you can try to sue the 
> uninsured driver to get some money back, but for small amounts it 
> usually isn't worth it.

Not to mention, if they don't have insurance, it's usually because they 
don't have any money anyway.  Suing already bankrupt people isn't a 
great way to get your money...

-- 
...Ben Chambers
www.pacificwebguy.com

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