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I lived in Europe for 3 years. The first thing I can tell you is that European left is not the same as the U.S. left. At all.
The second thing I can tell you is that you really don't want what they have. You have heard about how some things go in those countries, but until you've actually lived there for a time, you have no idea what a crappy idea it is. If you're wealthy, as it is anywhere else, you're fine. If you're a regular citizen, it's not what you think it is.
Let me give you one example: I was an MP who did garrison duty, not stuck at a gate. We had many bases to patrol all over the place in our area, so we were out and about on the streets and roads of the country, going from base to base or housing area to housing area.
Every year, the MPs on mid shift (over night) would go around to all the housing and apartments where locals lived. They were looking for their 'trash'. That 'trash' was furniture. That furniture was nearly new. Every year, these locals would 'throw away' their practically new furniture to the curb for pick up. Why? Because it was cheaper for them to throw it away and get new furniture than pay the taxes for the things they already paid taxes on when they bought them, but were going to be taxed on again just for owning them. We outfitted many barracks rooms that way. I had some in my own room. My roommate was on midshift and scored a very nice coffee table - glass coffee table - from one of those runs. Every. Year.
I don't know if they still do this, but we would always see yellow vans with a 'radar' type thing on top of the van, swiveling back and forth as it drove down the road. Apparently, that was to pick up which households had TV. Because, then they could be taxed for that.
The price of everything was really high, even back then. I can't even imagine it now. And even if you already paid tax on it when you bought it, you could be taxed just for having it. Even your dog. I've talked about locals walking their dog in the middle of the pitch black woods at 2 dark thirty, many times. You want to be taxed on your dog every single year? I'm not talking about shots, I'm talking about taxes on your dog, simply because you have one.
It was like every last thing you could think of was taxed.
And school? You want to go to college? Well, most of the people in this country wouldn't make it by their standards. You have to be excellent from the start. That 3.0 isn't going to let you go to college. We wouldn't even be having the conversation of 'student loan debt forgiveness' in this country if the left got what they wanted, because many of them would never be able to go to college. Yeah, it's 'free', but not everyone gets to go. Only those who are deemed intelligent and talented enough to go. Everyone else? Well, you can work construction. There was always construction. And always someone sitting down on their break, drinking a dang beer at the construction site. That's one thing I'll never forget.
And when the wall came down, I was there. I can assure you that the wealthier locals were not happy about it. one. bit. They complained so much about how their economy was going to be trashed, how those people were going to drive their crappy cars on the roads (which they did) that could not keep up with typical autobahn traffic, how they 'didn't have enough room' for all of them...it wasn't entirely the happy and uplifting fairy tale so many were told over here. A LOT of those in the west were NOT happy about it infringing on their comfortable lifestyle.
Is that how you want to live?
Do you want a government controlling you to that level and beyond? Government is supposed to work for us, we are not supposed to be servants to the government.
Ok, so you lived in Germany 30 years ago. A lot has changed since then. One country, albeit a populous one, is not representative of a continent of 748 million people (as of 2022).
Do you realize how ridiculous it is to use Switzerland as a comparison? The population of the entire country is less than the population of New York City, let alone New York, or the other 49 States comprising the United States.
It’s like comparing Vail Colorado with East ST. Louis
You are saying we cannot be a free as Switzerland because we are bigger? Why should that matter? Our standard of living is similar to Switzerland. Vail and E St. Louis are vastly different.
If these other countries are so great, why did it take America getting involved to win not 1, but 2 world wars and bring N Korea to the negotiating table?
Plus we have states almost as big as all of Europe wityha much larhger [population.
Liberalism MY work for less polulated places.
So, I have a question for you.
If socialism is so good, why do so many from those countries come HERE for medical treatment?
Another question, if socialism is so good, why are the boats full of migrants only flowing in one direction between Venezuela/Cuba and Florida?
Socialism doesn't scale. Simple as that. You eventually run out of other people's money, but you run out of other people's money faster at scale.
Ok, so you lived in Germany 30 years ago. A lot has changed since then. One country, albeit a populous one, is not representative of a continent of 748 million people (as of 2022).
Once again, people don't understand the concept of "an example".
Are you trying to tell me that they don't get taxed to death anymore?
Tax at 42%, no dog, no church, no benefits, just income, you would be taxed 42% by German standards. You would make 67 grand, but only bring home $39,162 and change. Make 100 grand, but only bring home $58,000. And they aren't done taxing you, just yet...
Are you telling me they no longer have a dog tax?
Quote:
Dog tax (Hundesteuer)
If you own a dog in Germany, you are required by law to register it at your local tax office, where it will receive a tag (Hundemarke) confirming you have paid the licence. This usually costs somewhere between 90 to 150 euros per year for the first dog. The tax is higher for any additional dogs, to deter owners from having too many pets. Services dogs, such as guide dogs, are exempt, as are other pets.
Oh look, they still have a TV tax:
Quote:
Licence fee (Rundfunkbeitrag)
Since 2013, every household in Germany has been required to pay the TV and radio licence fee (Rundfunkbeitrag), regardless of whether you own a TV or a radio. The rationale behind this is that in the modern world you can still access content via a computer or a phone. As soon as you register your address in Germany, you will most likely receive a letter from the Beitragsservice requesting payment. It costs 18.36 euros per household per month (in 2022), no matter how many people are living there. You may be eligible for reduced payments or exempt if you receive benefits, are disabled, or are a student.
In addition, they have:
Quote:
Benefits in kind (geldwerter Vorteil)
You may also be obliged to pay tax on anything deemed a “benefit in kind†- that is, perks or benefits you receive from your employer, such as the use of a car. Company cars are taxed at 1% of the car’s list price, including VAT. Shares given as perks or bonuses are also subject to taxes.
And:
Quote:
Solidarity surcharge (Solidaritätzuschlag)
Often called “Soli†for short, this 5,5% tax supplement is payable on income tax, capital gains and corporation taxes. It was initially introduced in 1991 to cover the costs of German reunification, for instance paying the pensions and debts of the former East German government.
Just as I said the locals were not all happy about the wall coming down.
And:
Quote:
Church tax (Kirchensteuer) When you register in Germany, you are asked to declare a religion. If you declare yourself Protestant, Catholic or Jewish you are liable to pay the church tax, which the tax office collects on behalf of religious organisations in Germany. It is currently 8% in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg and 9% in all other federal states. If you have no declared religion, you will not pay church tax.
In other words, everything that I said above is STILL happening, so no, "a lot" has NOT changed.
Here, do your own German taxes with the income you make here. Tell me how you make out:
Tax at 42%, no dog, no church, no benefits, just income, you would be taxed 42% by German standards. You would make 67 grand, but only bring home $39,162 and change. Make 100 grand, but only bring home $58,000. And they aren't done taxing you, just yet...
Are you telling me they no longer have a dog tax?
Oh look, they still have a TV tax:
In addition, they have:
And:
Just as I said the locals were not all happy about the wall coming down.
And:
In other words, everything that I said above is STILL happening, so no, "a lot" has NOT changed.
Here, do your own German taxes with the income you make here. Tell me how you make out:
And that's before the outrageous VAT that most European countries have. Germany's is 19%.
Just ran the calculator. As a single guy, income tax in Germany alone would exceed what I pay in federal, FICA, state, and local taxes combined. And that includes a reasonable estimate of sales tax by about 60%.
Except gas is $3.20 a gallon here while it's $10+ in most of Europe.
And that's before I consider the fact that in my industry, Germany pays between 30 and 50 cents on the dollar for a comparable job.
Last edited by albert648; 11-11-2022 at 07:34 AM..
Now you have the right banning talk about gender, banning books etc.
.
Wait!!
The Republicans only want to ban certain books in schools! The kind of books that go back to my huge post early that explains how the left are pushing the woke Marxist style ideology in school rooms, books that PARENTS not only right leaning parents disapprove of but also many Democrat voting parents disapprove of.
Books that teach kids to believe the U.S.A is a horrible country, books that use explicit sexual text, books that teach them there are 50 different sexes and books that teach kids that if they want to identify as a cat or dog that's fine. Books that indoctrinate them to undermine their family and parents.
Not many right wing Republicans have called for book bans for adults, the left and the teachers unions tried to create the narrative that Republicans are right wing fascist book burners because the indoctrination power over kids is being taking away from the left wing because once again the far left want total control over the minds of kids.
And that's before the outrageous VAT that most European countries have. Germany's is 19%.
Just ran the calculator. As a single guy, income tax in Germany alone would exceed what I pay in federal, FICA, state, and local taxes combined. And that includes a reasonable estimate of sales tax by about 60%.
Except gas is $3.20 a gallon here while it's $10+ in most of Europe.
And that's before I consider the fact that in my industry, Germany pays like 50 cents on the dollar for a comparable job.
It's even worse in Sweden. Income above about $45K is taxed at over 50%. Under it's 32%. Their VAT is 25%.
They have a more much fair tax system then the US where we punish success. Everyone pays a lot there. Sweden also has a lower corporate tax rate than the US.
Could you imagine the class warrior American left running on the Swedish model? Bernie touts there system but never explains how it actually works.
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