This author seems to think that the U.S. can't copy the Scandinavian social policies without killing entrepreneurship/innovation. So this got me thinking...

Although the U.S. can't create the exact same policies, we should be able to create policies that will enhance social and economic mobility much more than now without killing innovation and entrepreneurship. I don't agree with the idea that inequality is the driving force for innovation.

Here are a few things I think we should do to enhance economic mobility to create a more fair society:

1) Reform the tax system: abolish all current federal taxes and replace with a 25% Flat tax on income (all types of income) and 11% VAT on all transactions. That's it. This would raise $6.317 trillion/year in federal tax revenue. This is enough money to pay for current federal spending levels minus antipoverty programs (save 370 billion), and is enough to provide each adult citizen in this country a Basic Income Guarantee of $12,000/year. (Income tax would not apply to the Basic Income Guarantee.) It is also enough money to finance the projects I have described below if we make $100 billion worth of cuts in Defense spending.

2) Single Payer healthcare system and law that allows government to negotiate prices with drug and device manufacturing companies. Single Payer would be financed through a separate tax in addition to what I have above.

3) Make community colleges and public colleges/universities completely free (gov. pays for tuition, room/board, books) for undergraduate and graduate school. Provide a 10K per year stipend for non-traditional students who are trying to get an education to switch careers.

4) Provide federal funding to construct enough nuclear power plants to meet the entire country's energy demands. The idea is that all vehicles should be able to get their energy needs from the nuclear power electricity in addition to homes, buildings, industrial plants, etc...

5) Work with auto companies to make electric cars accessible and affordable to people of various income levels.

6) Provide federal funding to create high speed rails for across country public transport and funding for public transport in cities, towns, and between rural communities.

Projected Effects: 1) Manufacturing comes back to the U.S. -By eliminating the corporate tax rate and taking healthcare costs off of employers (through single payer), we encourage manufacturing back into this country. 2) Bring millions out of poverty through the Basic Income. 3) Encourage employment and expansion of small and big businesses leading to overall economic expansion. 4) Rural community development and increased economic opportunities -connecting communities through the public transport 5) Energy Independence and near-zero greenhouse gas emissions. 6) Job opportunities through nuclear power plant construction and maintenance along with construction of waste disposal facilities.

I realize many of these ideas aren't politically feasible in today's political climate lol.

What do you all think?