Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
In this episode, we discuss the Netherlands’ proposed 36% tax on unrealized capital gains, unpacking what it means to tax wealth that exists only on paper and how such a policy could force asset sales, distort investment behavior, and reshape long-term incentives for savers and entrepreneurs. For our Foolishness of the Week, we turn to North Carolina, where a local official distinguished himself as perhaps the dumbest sheriff in America. We then welcome Dave Greene for an extended conversation on health insurance, exploring how risk pooling actually works, why medical pricing feels arbitrary, how regulation and the Affordable Care Act altered incentives for insurers and patients, and why price opacity and third-party payment continue to drive costs higher across the system.
00:00 Introduction and Overview
00:31 Words and Numbers Backstage & Listener Shoutouts
04:13 The Netherlands’ 36% Tax on Unrealized Gains
08:20 Who Can Afford Risk Under a Wealth-Style Tax?
12:24 Florida Snow & Strange Weather
13:39 Foolishness of the Week: The Mecklenburg Sheriff
18:54 Dave Greene Introduction: Health Insurance Insider Perspective
21:36 Why Health Insurance Feels So Frustrating
24:05 Is the System Designed to Make You Give Up?
27:32 Why Health Care Prices Stay Hidden
34:13 The $1,600 MRI vs. $200 MRI Problem
41:38 Negotiating Medical Bills (Yes, You Can)
43:36 The Affordable Care Act and Incentive Distortions
47:24 Health Insurance Profit Margins Explained
50:45 1950s Health Care vs. Today’s Innovation
53:48 Why Insurance Companies Get the Blame
57:26 Medicare vs. Private Insurance Subsidies
01:01:35 Guest Outro and Closing Thoughts
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Join CiVL and get member-exclusive access to Ant & James as well other remarkable individuals building the future: civl.com
CiVL is a streaming platform for podcasts, visionary talks, debates, and documentaries.
Get the book by Ant & James:
Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!
cooperationandcoercion.com
Antony Davies on X
https://x.com/antonydavies
James R. Harrigan on X
https://x.com/JamesRHarrigan
In this episode, we discuss the Netherlands’ proposed 36% tax on unrealized capital gains, unpacking what it means to tax wealth that exists only on paper and how such a policy could force asset sales, distort investment behavior, and reshape long-term incentives for savers and entrepreneurs. For our Foolishness of the Week, we turn to North Carolina, where a local official distinguished himself as perhaps the dumbest sheriff in America. We then welcome Dave Greene for an extended conversation on health insurance, exploring how risk pooling actually works, why medical pricing feels arbitrary, how regulation and the Affordable Care Act altered incentives for insurers and patients, and why price opacity and third-party payment continue to drive costs higher across the system.
00:00 Introduction and Overview
00:31 Words and Numbers Backstage & Listener Shoutouts
04:13 The Netherlands’ 36% Tax on Unrealized Gains
08:20 Who Can Afford Risk Under a Wealth-Style Tax?
12:24 Florida Snow & Strange Weather
13:39 Foolishness of the Week: The Mecklenburg Sheriff
18:54 Dave Greene Introduction: Health Insurance Insider Perspective
21:36 Why Health Insurance Feels So Frustrating
24:05 Is the System Designed to Make You Give Up?
27:32 Why Health Care Prices Stay Hidden
34:13 The $1,600 MRI vs. $200 MRI Problem
41:38 Negotiating Medical Bills (Yes, You Can)
43:36 The Affordable Care Act and Incentive Distortions
47:24 Health Insurance Profit Margins Explained
50:45 1950s Health Care vs. Today’s Innovation
53:48 Why Insurance Companies Get the Blame
57:26 Medicare vs. Private Insurance Subsidies
01:01:35 Guest Outro and Closing Thoughts
- -
Join CiVL and get member-exclusive access to Ant & James as well other remarkable individuals building the future: civl.com
CiVL is a streaming platform for podcasts, visionary talks, debates, and documentaries.
Get the book by Ant & James:
Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!
cooperationandcoercion.com
Antony Davies on X
https://x.com/antonydavies
James R. Harrigan on X
https://x.com/JamesRHarrigan
