Private healthcare subsidises the public system; it treats people who would otherwise be treated in the public system. The same applies to private education although it's a much smaller sector. As long as the cost to the State of the tax relief is less than the cost they would have to incur without the private hospitals then what's the problem?Sorry Purple but I'm still not I follow.
I'm not arguing that we should have public healthcare or education. Equally, I have no problem with private healthcare or education. I just don't see why the taxpayer should subsidise these private services.
Brendan
Would you favour making private school fees tax deductible?
As a general rule, I hate State subsidies of anything. I would prefer if taxes were kept as low as possible and individuals could make their own decisions how to spend or invest their capital.
Surely arguments on political policy should be ideological in nature? I would hate to think that decisions made for a society are made on a purely practical basis Brendan. What you're asking for here is to give relief to a certain section of society, those who can afford health insurance, taking money out of the government coffers and thereby reducing the amount of money available for use in the health service available to those who cannot afford it, based on the argument that in the long run this will make more money available for the public health service as the number of people looking to avail of it will reduce as more move over to the private health service. That is a hard message to sell.But this is what I would call and ideological argument overriding a practical argument.
Well, unfortunately this happens pretty much everywhere the State gets involved...the right discussion should be why it seems that we are spending more money every year on public health and getting less in return.
Would you favour making private school fees tax deductible?
But by your reasoning, surely the teachers in the private schools should not be paid by the state?
See, a universal healthcare and education system means everyone is obligated to subsidise it, through taxes.I believe in a universal healthcare and education system. Beyond that, well, people can pay for whatever they want - just don't ask me to subsidise it.
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