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Yes and medical insurance is VERY expensive I have seen people pay $600 per month. The UK is cheaper to live.
Then you have property taxes and state, income, sales, federal taxes etc
Nope-disagree-US is cheaper.
Property tax is instead of council tax.
We pay VAT,and income tax too.
Things to do with families and eating out is cheaper.
Accomodation is cheaper.
Petrol and cars are cheaper.
Groceries are about the same, but you can afford a bigger yard and grow your own!
Having lived in both countries, let me point something out. It's difficult to generalise about local costs of living in the US in terms of statutory taxes, because there are so many differences, whereas in the UK it's really only going to be difference in council tax. Some US states don't have a state income tax at all (e.g. Texas, Florida). Others don't have any sales tax/VAT (e.g. Delaware). There is a wide continuum along which state income taxes range. Property taxes vary widely (e.g. very high in New Jersey, very low in Delaware). There is no council tax per se (property tax on real estate substitutes for that). As to nonstatutory costs, those of course vary greatly within both the UK and US: London and Manhattan are both terribly expensive; some little town in Texas or in Shropshire much less so.
I think the OP was really asking about political structures, however. Frankly I think that's rather silly, because the structures of each country have their respective advantages and disadvantages, and both have evolved to address different realities (e.g. America was already a collection of self-governing colonies that demanded a federal system when the country was founded). It's chalk and cheese, apples and oranges.
the structures of each country have their respective advantages and disadvantages, and both have evolved to address different realities (e.g. America was already a collection of self-governing colonies that demanded a federal system when the country was founded). It's chalk and cheese, apples and oranges.
Moderator's Note:
I think the above analysis sums things up very nicely.
However, if you folks wish to civilly discuss chalk and cheese, far be for me to stand in the way. That said, please be advised that if the thread turns into a senseless, nationalistic chest-beating contest, if will be closed toute suite.
One is built on small government, individual responsibility and accountability, and opportunity for everybody. The other is about collective social responsibility, bigger government control, and a welfare safety net. You could go on for days debating the pros and cons of each.
The one thing that pis**es me off more than anything in the UK is our attitude toward the royal family - the biggest welfare recipient family in the world. 'Democracy' is a bit of an illusion in both countries, but in the US people at least try to adhere to 'all born equal' - and the head of state has to be elected!
One is built on small government, individual responsibility and accountability, and opportunity for everybody. The other is about collective social responsibility, bigger government control, and a welfare safety net. You could go on for days debating the pros and cons of each.
The one thing that pis**es me off more than anything in the UK is our attitude toward the royal family - the biggest welfare recipient family in the world. 'Democracy' is a bit of an illusion in both countries, but in the US people at least try to adhere to 'all born equal' - and the head of state has to be elected!
U just gave me the idea for an interesting new thread...
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