We have examples of single payer system. The VA system is single payer, and how is that working out? Transfer the Vets suicide rate to the population of Hawaii and we lose 50,000 people a year.  Another example is Medicare/Medicaid which doctors are refusing to take and don't pay enough for hospitals to survive. Ask Canadians how good the system is.  The answer is for a cold it's great but for something serious they come to the US because the wait is too long for treatment. The poor don't pay taxes so I don't know what you base the poor's tax burden.  On transparency I agree with you. By the way minimum wage is suppose to be for entry level workers who work their way up to a better salary.  The increased pay is the motivation to improve one's position.