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No when you Godless liberal now Democratic socialists took the Lords Prayer out of schools created this mess!
Funny you talk about balance of life because the American worker is the most productive with less time off than their European counter parts.My wages were not stagnate till 8 years of Obama!
You should read some stats... the US workers are not productive compared to others.
Know why? Because as salary goes up, due to strong Unions and government that back workers, business has to look for ways to keep profitable.. so the invest in machines and automation. The newest, best and often most expensive. Productivity stays up, workers are paid more and the products gets cheaper.
My brothers small 15+ man CNC machine shop, has better machines then most aerospace companies in the US are running.
The USA doesn't compare to a tiny country (Norway) drowning in oil revenues. The EU has 180 million more people than the USA but the USA GDP is still $2 Trillion higher yearly than the entire EU.
If you're not man enough to leave your little country with its Trillions in oil revenue to prop up its population smaller than most USA states, then stay there.
Even with all of that oil revenue, the average financial wealth of Norwegains at $20K is only 12% of what the USA is at$176K....
Yes, I realize that with your oil revenue you don't have to work in Norway but a few hours per year but that wouldn't work in the USA with its population and demographics.
You do realize only 4% of the oil revenue is spent into the economy?
The rest is saved into the worlds largest wealth fund for future pensions... $1Trillion+ right now..
You should not look at average financial wealth... 40% of Americans can't afford a $400 emergency payment.
And what.. 60-70% have less then $12.000 in retirement funds.
As if our sacred system of capitalism is working so well for the 99% US housing prices have hit an all time record of $1405/month in 2019. And with income being 40 times required rent/mortgage, a family's income should be at least $56,000/year to afford the average housing cost. Then we have the fact that the average minimum wage in the US is $8.39/hour. In 18 states, it's still a measly $7.25 which hasn't changed since 2009. (And let's not even start discussing waitstaff who still make $2.13.) You know what has changed? COL. It keeps going up up up. Even if a worker earns way above minimum wage, their earnings often don't increase at the rate of COL, especially when it comes to housing, medical, and education expenses. Throw in some kids and the middle/lower class is broke.
You do realize only 4% of the oil revenue is spent into the economy?
The rest is saved into the worlds largest wealth fund for future pensions... $1Trillion+ right now..
You should not look at average financial wealth... 40% of Americans can't afford a $400 emergency payment.
And what.. 60-70% have less then $12.000 in retirement funds.
You don't have to afford a $400 emergency payment....by law, the hospitals have to treat everyone having a medical emergency.
PS....you should look very much at average financial wealth (tells you how you're doing).
I'm not going to try to say your system doesn't work for you, it apparently does but I have no use for it....keep it over there.
Nothing is free. Look at the cost of living and taxes in Norway and Denmark and they only have 5 million people (each). In the U.S. we have over 340 million so the cost of living and taxes will be higher than Norway and Denmark to pay for the "free" stuff since we allow millions of poor people to enter the U.S.
Gasoline in Norway $6.96 a gallon (U.S. average is $2.98)
Toyota Corolla Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) $33,000 in Norway (U.S is $18,000)
Volkswagen Golf Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) $36,400 Norway ( U.S is $18,500)
Milk is $7.85 in Norway $2.63 in the U.S
Eggs dozen: Norway is $4.47 U.S. is $1.84
Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1 lb) Norway is $6.44 U.S $3.52
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) Norway $12.38 U.S. $4.40
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) Norway $98.58 U.S. $ 46
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) Norway $ 113. U.S. $70
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes Norway $154 U.S. $87
Denmark is about the same....they have a 25% sales tax and 55% income tax. The average monthly salary in those countries is $3,200.
once you tell the Americans how much taxes are going to go up and how high the cost of living will be the majority of Americans will reject it. Once you show the real numbers to the taxpayers we will realize that a massive government take over is not worth it.
I don't mean to be so snarky but I just don't have a ton of respect for most American conservatives. I'm quite frankly surprised we didn't go to socialism 20 years ago to be honest.
Anyway, Trump's election, as big of a buffoon as he is, gave me some hope. I'm a liberal but I have nothing against Trump at all. The man unapologetically is who he is, and only somebody that belligerent could have breathed life into the conservative base and woke them up. So we at least have some semblance of political checks and balances now.
At least he has done this. So I still have a hope that people will realize what a threat this is and get out and vote!
Taxation is 35-45%.
That pays for healthcare, education, medicine, defense, 5 weeks of paid vacation, one parent (they can chose who) gets to stay home 1 year after childbirth, guaranteed 66% of former salary if you get sick or can't work any longer, public pension, and lots and lots of other public goods.
However 50% of Americans live on $30.000 or less.
How much is healthcare?
30-40 Millions have no insurance.
500.000 medical bankruptcies each year.
45.000 dies each year due to lack of healthcare.
I don't envy you but don't be smug. If you had not found oil you would have been like an average western European country like Italy or Greece. Just because you ar lucky does not mean you are smart.
And i don't like the unhealthy diet. Mostly meat and fish, many of which are salted to preserve it through the winter. Fresh vegetables and fruits are a rarity and very expensive. And super cold and dark half the year. No thanks. I would rather live in USA with all its faults than in Norway. And you would rather live there than here. Good for both of us.
Quote:
Even at the end of the 1960s, right as oil was first discovered, “we had a GDP that was not so different from Greece. We were a little below average,” says Helge Ryggvik, who studies economic history at the University of Oslo.
“Just not among the super-rich, like we are today,” he said.
You should read some stats... the US workers are not productive compared to others.
Know why? Because as salary goes up, due to strong Unions and government that back workers, business has to look for ways to keep profitable.. so the invest in machines and automation. The newest, best and often most expensive. Productivity stays up, workers are paid more and the products gets cheaper.
My brothers small 15+ man CNC machine shop, has better machines then most aerospace companies in the US are running.
Compared to the sun, the moon is not far from Egypt
The USA is the 5th most productive in the world. To be fair, your teensy tinsy country is 3rd and all the countries ahead of the USA are tiny countries that in some cases, wouldn't qualify as a state in the USA.
With a soon 7-2 conservative SCOTUS, do not bet on it.
Expect a challenge to minimum wage first. Might take 8-1 tho. (See Adkins 1923.)
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US housing prices have hit an all time record of $1405/month in 2019. And with income being 40 times required rent/mortgage, a family's income should be at least $56,000/year to afford the average housing cost. Then we have the fact that the average minimum wage in the US is $8.39/hour. In 18 states, it's still a measly $7.25 which hasn't changed since 2009. (And let's not even start discussing waitstaff who still make $2.13.) You know what has changed? COL. It keeps going up up up. Even if a worker earns way above minimum wage, their earnings often don't increase at the rate of COL, especially when it comes to housing, medical, and education expenses. Throw in some kids and the middle/lower class is broke. 
