Dear all, I know I'm writing something that will be criticised...I am European and think that we have a lot of advantages from the welfare system that we have in our country. The main benefits of having a free (or low cost) education and health care systems are that everyone benefit of the fact that we have better citizens around. Better educated, more able to work and be productive, better quality of life. This means not only a better society on the whole but also a better and safer society also for the more wealthy, who indirectly benefit of the system.
To have a good public health care system helps a lot not only the individual when needed, but the whole society. If people can be cured, they will be better workers, better students, better citizens. If a good student but poor can have a free education and become a good professional, a good medical doctor, a good technician, a good teacher, we all benefit of this opportunity.
Poor immigrants can send the children at school almost for free. Second generation immigrants can so integrate very well in the country, aspire to a better job and have a better life - it's also the best antidote to have a more secure society, I think.
Here I spent my two pennies, not useful to the information asked by Shake2000, sorry :-)





[QUOTE=shake2000;11070697]Moses –
I understand the argument that we get free medical and education but I don’t believe in that either. If I am employed, which I plan to be, my employer will always have me covered for health insurance… so basically I am not even using the benefits I am paying for. I also understand the argument is we are paying into a system to help when we need it… but I would still rather spend when I need to. It is against the whole principle but just my opinion. For Education… personal choice but I do not want to send my kids to public school especially how the curriculum is now. No one fails and there is no competition… what does that mean?

No worries, we all have our reasons. I agree with education being subsidized as that works for all and does create equal opportunity but I would still prefer everyone else pay for their own medical and other things themselves. If someone decides to have 6 kids... why should my tax money pay for their grants... they should have thought earlier.

I just don't like the Federal tax entry of $49-55K on my tax slip. Multiply that by years of full time work.... will make any grown man cry!