The Medicare levy should be expanded to apply to alcohol, tobacco and junk food

[barryqwalsh]

As we wait for the budget, I have a sensible suggestion. The Medicare levy should be expanded to apply to alcohol, tobacco and junk food. The additional revenue from the 2 per cent levy could be ringfenced into a Medicare future fund, to help put Medicare on a more sustainable footing. The fund could invest in the agricultural sector, making Australia less dependent on foreign ownership, with the proceeds part-funding health care. We need such long-term policies, which we don't seem to be getting from our politicians.

Cheques paid in all the wrong places

 

[Sun Devil 92]

As we wait for the budget, I have a sensible suggestion. The Medicare levy should be expanded to apply to alcohol, tobacco and junk food. The additional revenue from the 2 per cent levy could be ringfenced into a Medicare future fund, to help put Medicare on a more sustainable footing. The fund could invest in the agricultural sector, making Australia less dependent on foreign ownership, with the proceeds part-funding health care. We need such long-term policies, which we don't seem to be getting from our politicians.

Cheques paid in all the wrong places

Define junk food ?

Why not all food ?

And why don't we tax people for the food they grow in their gardens.

I mean, we can't not have the elderly cluttering up waiting rooms for every stupid little thing that comes along.

 

[dblack]

We should levy a hefty tax on anyone over sixty years old. Let's be honest, they're the ones responsible for the vast bulk of our health care spending.

 

[Sun Devil 92]

We should levy a hefty tax on anyone over sixty years old. Let's be honest, they're the ones responsible for the vast bulk of our health care spending.

Or require people to save earlier for that time in their lives.

It's really end of life care that seems to hit us pretty hard.

 

[barryqwalsh]

The problem with Western governments, is a lack of long-term planning. This is why I support a Medicare Future Fund. I agree, it wouldn't solve healthcare funding, but it would be a step in the right direction.

 

[dblack]

The problem with Western governments, is a lack of long-term planning. This is why I support a Medicare Future Fund. I agree, it wouldn't solve healthcare funding, but it would be a step in the right direction.

We need more government planners! Making plans for us!

 

[Stephanie]

But don't accuse a left/dem of being Fascist/totalitarian. DO these PEOPLE ever get enough of your all's HARD earned blood sweat and tears from you and your family to fund their PET PROJECTS?

thank goodness this person isn't in our government.

 

[Arianrhod]

We should levy a hefty tax on anyone over sixty years old. Let's be honest, they're the ones responsible for the vast bulk of our health care spending.

Many of the diseases people develop in their 60s are the result of poor lifestyle choices in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, overeating and/or eating crap, refusing to exercise. Mitigate those things and most people can remain healthy well past age 60.

 

[dblack]

We should levy a hefty tax on anyone over sixty years old. Let's be honest, they're the ones responsible for the vast bulk of our health care spending.

Many of the diseases people develop in their 60s are the result of poor lifestyle choices in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, overeating and/or eating crap, refusing to exercise. Mitigate those things and most people can remain healthy well past age 60.

Exactly. We need government programs to educate them properly, teach them how to live a good life and make healthy lifestyle choices.

 

[Arianrhod]

We should levy a hefty tax on anyone over sixty years old. Let's be honest, they're the ones responsible for the vast bulk of our health care spending.

Many of the diseases people develop in their 60s are the result of poor lifestyle choices in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, overeating and/or eating crap, refusing to exercise. Mitigate those things and most people can remain healthy well past age 60.

Exactly. We need government programs to educate them properly, teach them how to live a good life and make healthy lifestyle choices.

Ah, I see. It's Sarcastic dblack today. No point in asking you what you really mean, I suppose?

 

[Sun Devil 92]

But don't accuse a left/dem of being Fascist/totalitarian. DO these PEOPLE ever get enough of your all's HARD earned blood sweat and tears from you and your family to fund their PET PROJECTS?

thank goodness this person isn't in our government.

We should levy a hefty tax on anyone over sixty years old. Let's be honest, they're the ones responsible for the vast bulk of our health care spending.

Many of the diseases people develop in their 60s are the result of poor lifestyle choices in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, overeating and/or eating crap, refusing to exercise. Mitigate those things and most people can remain healthy well past age 60.

Exactly. We need government programs to educate them properly, teach them how to live a good life and make healthy lifestyle choices.

Written by government employees who were to inept to make it in the private sector.

 

[dblack]

But don't accuse a left/dem of being Fascist/totalitarian. DO these PEOPLE ever get enough of your all's HARD earned blood sweat and tears from you and your family to fund their PET PROJECTS?

thank goodness this person isn't in our government.

We should levy a hefty tax on anyone over sixty years old. Let's be honest, they're the ones responsible for the vast bulk of our health care spending.

Many of the diseases people develop in their 60s are the result of poor lifestyle choices in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, overeating and/or eating crap, refusing to exercise. Mitigate those things and most people can remain healthy well past age 60.

Exactly. We need government programs to educate them properly, teach them how to live a good life and make healthy lifestyle choices.

Written by government employees who were to inept to make it in the private sector.

Nope. Written by "We the People". You need to brush up on democracy.

 

[Arianrhod]

Nope. Written by "We the People". You need to brush up on democracy.

Well, you're one of the People. Start writing your own solution.

I have a hunch what it'll be, but I'll reserve judgment for the moment.

 

[Sun Devil 92]

But don't accuse a left/dem of being Fascist/totalitarian. DO these PEOPLE ever get enough of your all's HARD earned blood sweat and tears from you and your family to fund their PET PROJECTS?

thank goodness this person isn't in our government.

We should levy a hefty tax on anyone over sixty years old. Let's be honest, they're the ones responsible for the vast bulk of our health care spending.

Many of the diseases people develop in their 60s are the result of poor lifestyle choices in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, overeating and/or eating crap, refusing to exercise. Mitigate those things and most people can remain healthy well past age 60.

Exactly. We need government programs to educate them properly, teach them how to live a good life and make healthy lifestyle choices.

Written by government employees who were to inept to make it in the private sector.

Nope. Written by "We the People". You need to brush up on democracy.

Yeah,

I forgot.....We The People is the people the left wants to be part of the we.

 

[dblack]

Nope. Written by "We the People". You need to brush up on democracy.

Well, you're one of the People. Start writing your own solution.

I have a hunch what it'll be, but I'll reserve judgment for the moment.

I'm proposing a wide ranging "life training" program accompanied by a series of mandates to ensure that people follow through on what they've learned.

 

[Sun Devil 92]

Nope. Written by "We the People". You need to brush up on democracy.

Well, you're one of the People. Start writing your own solution.

I have a hunch what it'll be, but I'll reserve judgment for the moment.

I'm proposing a wide ranging "life training" program accompanied by a series of mandates to ensure that people follow through on what they've learned.

Who is going to enforce these (not so libertarian) mandates ?

 

[dblack]

Nope. Written by "We the People". You need to brush up on democracy.

Well, you're one of the People. Start writing your own solution.

I have a hunch what it'll be, but I'll reserve judgment for the moment.

I'm proposing a wide ranging "life training" program accompanied by a series of mandates to ensure that people follow through on what they've learned.

Who is going to enforce these (not so libertarian) mandates ?

I'm thinking of a agency specifically tasked with community monitoring. Life is too complicated to expect people to just figure it out for themselves.

 

[Sun Devil 92]

Nope. Written by "We the People". You need to brush up on democracy.

Well, you're one of the People. Start writing your own solution.

I have a hunch what it'll be, but I'll reserve judgment for the moment.

I'm proposing a wide ranging "life training" program accompanied by a series of mandates to ensure that people follow through on what they've learned.

Who is going to enforce these (not so libertarian) mandates ?

I'm thinking of a agency specifically tasked with community monitoring. Life is too complicated to expect people to just figure it out for themselves.

O.K.

Funny....hahahaha

 

[barryqwalsh]

We need more government planners! Making plans for us![/QUOTE]

It is society as a whole, that should be planning for the future. We aren't willing to make sacrifices for the future. Other societies are planning for the future, shouldn't we?

 

[dblack]

We need more government planners! Making plans for us!

It is society as a whole, that should be planning for the future. We aren't willing to make sacrifices for the future. Other societies are planning for the future, shouldn't we?

We should. And so should everyone else.