Norway's golden egg

[Hoonose]

Originally Posted by gwynedd1

So does being able to sell seal meat with pilaf of coconut with a label that says - product of USA - .

Aside from a few wilderness villages, there is no demand for seal meat in our world today. Of course if global cooling really takes hold, in 10,000 years this might change.

[Naglfarni]

Originally Posted by sentry12

It has a high tax rate, the top tax rate is 50%+. the average person may only pay 25% but when people start earning more, they get punished with half their earning getting taken away. When you're earning $10 million.. $5 million is alot for healthcare, policing, schooling whatever else the government offers.

I don't think it is, actually.

That money also buys you all the advantages of living in a country where everyone gets healthcare, policing, schooling, pensions, unemployment benefits, maternity/paternity leave etc. And grew up with that.

Generally, I think you underestimate the diminishing return of earnings. If your take-home pay is 50 000 $, another 20k is going to make a big difference to your lifestyle. But if you take home 5 million, how much of a difference is the next 2 million? Not a lot. Especially not compared to what it buys you.

With respect to your opinions on welfare, I think you should read this. What really happens when the least productive 25 % of workers is removed from the labour pool on the taxpayers dime?

[gwynedd1]

Originally Posted by Hoonose

Aside from a few wilderness villages, there is no demand for seal meat in our world today. Of course if global cooling really takes hold, in 10,000 years this might change.

Think of it more along the lines of an old, spartan Protestant with a condom. Its not that he ever will use it. Its just that he could.

[Hoonose]

Originally Posted by gwynedd1

Think of it more along the lines of an old, spartan Protestant with a condom. Its not that he ever will use it. Its just that he could.

I can see the vivid yet odd picture, but sorry I can't follow your metaphor.

[gwynedd1]

Originally Posted by Hoonose

I can see the vivid yet odd picture, but sorry I can't follow your metaphor.

Plainly speaking it reminds me of the same sort of Japanese real estate froth where the value of just Nippon itself was valued more than all of North America. The US mainland spans 4 time zones. It has both polar regions and the sub tropics. It sits on two oceans. It has one of the most spectacular arable land masses in the world. California is envious of Norway's inheritance? WTF?

Its simply a real live case of the parable of the prodigal son.