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I somehow do not recognize the Europe that you describe here, and I live in Europe (from Berlin, now in Stockholm). Couple of question: Why do you call countri
by imartin2k 9y ago
I somehow do not recognize the Europe that you describe here, and I live in Europe (from Berlin, now in Stockholm).
Couple of question:
Why do you call countries "poor" when the topic is about "lower costs of living?". This is not necessarily the same.
"When adding all this it's not uncommon to reach 90% real tax on a dollar earned and spent."
What's the source of this? I never have heard of this or experienced it. And by the way, alcohol in most places of Europe is way cheaper than in Bay Area (where I've spent 2 years). It even is cheaper in Sweden. At most regular restaurants or bars in Sweden, a 0.4 beer costs between 5.50 - 6.50 USD inlcuding tax (and there is no need to tip, or 10 % max - whereas in the Bay Area you need to add 20 % on basically everything except groceries just for the tips).
"There's and old saying that you can't get rich on a salary in Europe and I think it is at least 99% true."
Judging from the numerous blog posts and comments of Silicon Valley types wondering why their salary doesn't make them rich (possibly because they have to pay 5000 USD for rent), this seems to be a more global phenomenon. With few exceptions, people anywhere in the world don't get rich from salaries, but from investing money in smart ways.
"Some countries have an ok standard of living for the general population, but if you want more you will find that it is hard to achieve."
What would that "more" be? 3 Yachts, 5 houses around the world, 1 plane and 4 Ferrari? You might be right about this. But that kind of extreme wealth is not the motivator for most entrepreneurs. Also, there are countries such as Switzerland (which is Europe, too, and where Google has its biggest European site) where you can very well achieve that kind of wealth.
Sorry for being a bit snarky, but your post really seems more like you are selling a skewed ideological view (which mostly seems to be "taxes are bad") rather than reality.