• davidagain@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    It really sounds like you have no idea what the difference is between employee contributions and employer contributions.

    Answer me this. If you get a company car for free, do you complain that your salary was reduced?

    • iii@mander.xyz
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      6 days ago

      I have been in that situation. As I didn’t need a car, I asked for and indeed got a raise instead.

      • davidagain@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        Congratulations. You must live somewhere with good public transport or good cycling infrastructure or really near your workplace.

        But I think it’s hopelessly naive to think that if you reduced taxes on companies pay for ordinary workers would go up, or that they would get anywhere even slightly enough to pay for the sort of healthcare available for free in countries with socialised healthcare.

        Like I said, Americans spend roughly twice as much on healthcare as other wealthy countries and their health outcomes are worse than most of them. Who knew that maximising shareholder income wasn’t the best motivator for good, well priced healthcare?

        • iii@mander.xyz
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          5 days ago

          available for free in countries with socialised healthcare

          That’s exactly the point I’m trying to communicate.

          Americans grossly underestimate the costs of the system (“5% of your paycheque”, “free”, …).

          I’m not saying it’s better. I’m not saying it’s worse. I’m saying that statements like that are factually incorrect. There seems to be a naievity or worse, propagandic force in statements like that.

          • davidagain@lemmy.world
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            5 days ago

            That’s exactly the point I’m trying to communicate.

            Really?! Weird.

            Americans grossly underestimate the costs of the system

            Whilst paying roughly twice as much as people in other wealthy nations.

            • iii@mander.xyz
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              5 days ago

              Really?! Weird.

              Yes. Please revisit the original comment that started the whole train.

              Take a look at all the comments inbetween.

              Talking about apples wasn’t my idea. I never even argued against state ran healthcare.

              I simply, from experience, and with sources, stated that “free healthcare” or “5% of your paycheque” is grossly incorrect.

              • davidagain@lemmy.world
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                5 days ago

                Did I ever say 5%? In Belgium it turns out it’s 13% of your paycheck flat payment and then it’s free. Sounds like a massive, massive win. We should do like them for healthcare.

                • iii@mander.xyz
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                  5 days ago

                  Sounds like a massive, massive win. We should do like them for healthcare.

                  Sure, do so!

                  I live in Belgium. A copy-paste of that system would also increase costs for employing people and lower wages. As I tried to explain.

                  Did I ever say 5%?

                  Well, let’s again look at how this conversation started. Look at the posted image. That was the statement I was referring to when saying 5% is unrealistic. A fabrication or lie.

                  • davidagain@lemmy.world
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                    5 days ago

                    But your idea that companies pay people more when they pay less taxes is hopelessly naive. If you cut employer contributions in Belgium, the people who would get the spare money would be the shareholders and the ceos.

                    Famously McDonald’s and the pile pay their employees far, far less in America than in Scandinavia, but the burgers are very very similar in price.

                    If you reduce costs for employers, wages do not go up. There is zero wage inflationary pressure from increased profits. How can you not know this?

                    You foolishly seem to believe that wages are held down by taxes! No! Wages are held down by ceos and shareholders!