I assume that most people are either unable or unwilling to take control of major financial issues (i.e. health insurance, retirement, education, unemployment). Therefore, we must set up universal programs to help alleviate poverty/stupidity and calibrate tax policy to encourage people to make good economic decisions.
OTOH I think it's important for everyone to pay
something and do
something, so I've become more skeptical of minimum incomes as of late.
I favour progressive taxation, not to punish the rich, but because I think it's required in order to have a stable working class and finance my polices
In terms of policy:
- Universal health care with the option to purchase private insurance
- A national pension plan with generous incentives for the middle class to invest in the capital markets
- Subsidized, but not free post-secondary education
- A state Employment Insurance scheme that workers help finance
- Subsidies for stay at home parents
- Shift the highest tax rates from the upper middle class to the rich by taxing all kinds of income at the same rates.
- Modest minimum incomes for those who are completely unable to work