From: ralph@eddlewood.demon.co.uk   
      
   Charles Murray, of the American Enterprise Institute, is reported to   
   have come up with an idea which I find interesting. Few systems of   
   taxation and welfare are as complicated as ours in the UK, but reformers   
   often find it hard to balance equity with practicality.   
      
   Mr. Murray (does anyone know anything about him?) has put forward the   
   suggestion that   
      
   * All adults 21 and over should receive a state subsidy of $10,000 p.a.   
      
   * $3,000 of this should be paid into health insurance   
      
   * All other  income over £25,000 should be taxed at 33%   
      
   * There should be no other state aid for individuals   
      
   It is suggested that being able to earn $25k before incurring taxation   
   would be sufficient to motivate most workers, and that the rate above   
   that would be bearable. It is also suggested that the simplification of   
   welfare payments would save a great deal of money in administration.   
      
   But I cannot be sure how these figures would work for families in the   
   US. Can anyone comment?   
      
   --   
   ralph   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)