Why are corporations the dominant form of business in the United States?
As an owner of a corporation he/she is not personally responsible for any financial liabilities of the corporation. They can seize all of the assets in a meltdown of the business and the owner will still retain his/her personal property. Also for the tax breaks that are available when incorporated in certain states. Delaware is popular with insurance corporations.
How much can cutting federal regulation boost the U.S. economy?
Little or no impact. Businesses are very agile and have already adapted to Federal regulations involving the finance industry, health, public safety, etc. The idea that Federal regulation is chocking the economy and preventing job growth is a myth propagated by Republicans for political reasons. Do we really want dirty air and water, unsafe food, drugs that harm, dangerous cars, an unstable financial system, etc? The regulations were created in reaction to severe national problems after lots of study.There is one law, however, that cries out for repeal and replace. That is the US corporate tax code. Companies have figured out how to game it so they pay little in taxes. They create offshore holding companies, transfer patents to the offshore companies, then attribute all the revenues from product sales overseas to the offshore company. This is the game Apple and others are playing and it legally allows them to pay no taxes on offshore income. They have lots of other gimmicks they use to beat the system to pay no taxes. Our published corporate tax rate is one of the highest in the world, but after the games and gimmicks it is low. We need to align our economic interests with our tax policy and create an entirely new system that encourages American investment and job creation at home. It must be simple, transparent, and compliance must be easy.
How can we improve health care in America?
It seems that some major health care providers have a tight grasp on health policies, charege way too much and dictate what the health plan will cover. Millions of Americans go without health care and it's very sad. What are some resolutions or ideas that you have which can improve the health coverage of Americans as well as lower the cost? No name calling or pointing fingers. That never solves anything.
Can someone briefly describe these political parties to me?
It's really hard to boil it down to short answers. Basically: Republicans are conservatives who support business even if it costs taxpayers money and jobs, don't support social services, hate government regulations even when they benefit the people, think we should do whatever it takes to defend ourselves with wars and are very religious Democrats are liberals who support social services paid for by taxes, believe that business should be regulated, support education as a way to mitigate poverty, believe that people should help other people in life, believe that respect for others will keep the nation safe and are less likely to let religious. The Green party takes this a step further by adding non-violence, human rights and feminism, ecology and the like to their platform. The Constitution party believes that we get all our rights and permissions from God and their platform is formed on Biblical principles kind of like the Taliban in that they use the Koran as law. Libertarians believe in minimal government, no federal income tax, no welfare, no aid to foreign nations (foreign aid is what won the Cold War by keeping our allies from supporting the USSR), and a variety of other issues.