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   Ian Z (soviut@hachyderm.io)'s status on Tuesday, 11-Nov-2025 01:25:31 JST Ian Z

   • Thomas 🔭🕹️

   @thomasfuchs Because they don't understand the difference between socialism and communism and they're scared of the latter.

   • Embed this notice
     Laurent Sansonetti (lrz@mastodon.cloud)'s status on Tuesday, 11-Nov-2025 01:34:32 JST Laurent Sansonetti

     • Thomas 🔭🕹️

     @thomasfuchs I think that the problem is that Americans want European-style healthcare without European-style tax brackets.

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     Pete Keen (zrail@hachyderm.io)'s status on Tuesday, 11-Nov-2025 01:49:13 JST Pete Keen

     • Thomas 🔭🕹️

     @thomasfuchs as others have said, it's the racism. There are other factors too, like large unions pushing back because health coverage is a huge part of their bargaining process. More diffuse than that, it's additional friction when moving between jobs and that benefits employers because it makes wage suppression easier.

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     Jessie (she/her) (jessieimproved@hachyderm.io)'s status on Tuesday, 11-Nov-2025 03:35:36 JST Jessie (she/her)

     • Thomas 🔭🕹️

     @thomasfuchs Not afraid, the internalized idea that people should only get what they "deserve". Insert whatever racist/classist/capitalist world model of deserved-ness you want. It varies. Doesn't even matter if you point out a rising tide lifts all boats. They don't care.

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     Laurent Sansonetti (lrz@mastodon.cloud)'s status on Wednesday, 12-Nov-2025 22:08:26 JST Laurent Sansonetti

     in reply to

     • Thomas 🔭🕹️
     • firebreathingduck

     @firebreathingduck @thomasfuchs That's a lot of money and I'm sorry to hear about your situation.

     Now, realistically, how would you feel about paying a 50% tax on most of your income (and 60% on special income such as bonuses, RSUs, etc.) 😅️ That's the current situation in my home country (Belgium). I personally don't mind but when I tell this to my American friends they freak out :)

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     firebreathingduck (firebreathingduck@social.vivaldi.net)'s status on Wednesday, 12-Nov-2025 22:08:27 JST firebreathingduck

     in reply to

     • Thomas 🔭🕹️
     • Laurent Sansonetti

     @lrz @thomasfuchs

     My employer is paying $18,000 a year towards my family health insurance. This year I paid $28,500 between health insurance and deductibles until I hit my out-of-pocket maximum. Next year the numbers will be $18,000 and $33,700, respectively. (My wife has medical issues that will cause us to reach our deductible.)

     Now obviously not every family has a member with expensive chronic ailments. But many do, and countless others will. So the US government could raise my taxes $45,000 a year as part of universal health care and I would be thrilled.

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     Laurent Sansonetti (lrz@mastodon.cloud)'s status on Wednesday, 12-Nov-2025 23:49:24 JST Laurent Sansonetti

     • Thomas 🔭🕹️
     • firebreathingduck

     @thomasfuchs @firebreathingduck Here you hit the 50% bracket after just 48,320 euros :) And close to 60% on extra income (ex. bonuses etc.). I'm certain that my US colleagues pay way less taxes than I do.

     But I'm not complaining, we have a great social net (not just healthcare). Our kid is mentally disabled and he has been (and will likely be) taken care off extremely well - the primary reason we haven't moved elsewhere.