Sanders is good man with wrong economic ideas
The Jan. 25 Democratic debate was very interesting. Even though I am a conservative voter, I like the way Bernie Sanders comes across. He is a good man and you can tell he whole-heartedly believes in the message he gives: free medical service and education for all.
Bernie wants Wall Street and the top one-half of 1 percent of the highest paid individuals to pay for them. He mentioned Denmark and Germany as examples that already have his programs in effect. That is very possible, but he doesn’t give the full picture. It is possible that Bernie has not fully explored Denmark’s position.
In 1956 my late wife and I flew to Denmark to celebrate our 25th anniversary with my uncle and his wife’s 50th. A number of times during our stay we were with a group of people and eventually the conversation was health care. I was questioned about our system, and that not everyone was covered. I had to agree, but then I discovered how they paid for theirs: a 23 percent national sales tax on everything they buy. About 20 years ago a cousin from Denmark visited us, and through conversation we found out the national sales tax was now 25 percent.
About 15 years ago my cousin’s son wrote us that his mother had eye surgery and it cost her $3,000. Evidently everything isn’t paid for, and there may also be exceptions in the education program. I have no idea how much their national sales tax is today, but I believe I can assure you it is not less than 25 percent and more than likely higher.
If Bernie Sanders becomes president I wish him luck in getting Wall Street and the top one-half of 1 percent of the highest income people to pay for his programs. Of course, he’ll more than likely be working with a Republican-controlled Congress that wouldn’t be too enthused to pass his programs. A national sales tax would be a backup starting out at around 10 percent, but then you know about sales taxes — they always go up.
Bernie, you’re a good man, but you live in a fantasy world. —Poul Houlberg, Kalispell