3 ms·

You are right, but in comparison to European countries, U.S. taxes are low. There's only one European country (Lithuania) where tax per GDP is clearly lower tha

You are right, but in comparison to European countries, U.S. taxes are low. There's only one European country (Lithuania) where tax per GDP is clearly lower than U.S. E.g. in Scandinavia, the horrors of U.S. are attributed to its "extremy low" tax status. Horrors like that rich people only live in compounds surrounded by walls and armed guards, and the poor are dying because of no health care and no food, and the middle class does not exist. Yes, I know it sounds rather extreme but this is common rhetoric in countries where the tax rates are >40%. Election time is never far away.

adventured 12y ago
What are you talking about? "Horrors like that rich people only live in compounds surrounded by walls and armed guards, and the poor are dying because of no health care and no food, and the middle class does not exist." The poor have essentially universal free healthcare in the US and have for a long time. I should know, I've used it before, and it's very easy to use. The poor also have the benefit of the one of the largest welfare states on earth, including the largest food and subsidized housing programs. The US has the world's largest true middle class, with a median income among the highest of any country. A mere 1% of US labor earns the minimum wage, and the majority of those people are below the age of 25. The US also has a higher labor force participation rate than nearly all of Europe - while simultaneously having a high median income. The US has a lower unemployment rate than: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Greece. And while Europe rolls around in a near depression, with Europe's GDP still at 2007 levels (since 2007 the US has added $3.5 trillion to its GDP) and high unemployment, US wages are expanding at the fastest pace in a decade, while unemployment keeps falling, which will drive even faster wage growth in the next few years.
- ptaipale 12y ago
  I'm talking about rhetoric that's used, particularly in the countries you mentioned in the unemployment list. I didn't say I believe the rhetoric. I just say that elections are never far away, and that kind of talk - how bad the U.S. is - gets votes.
- juliangregorian 12y ago
  My b.s. meter is tingling at a lot of what you said (enough that on reddit I'd accuse you of being a shill), but you're being blatantly disingenuous about healthcare. It's true that emergency rooms won't turn anyone away (and maybe you bailed on the resultant bill as a "poor" college student), but Medicaid does nothing for most and even for those who qualify it gives nothing in the way of preventative care.
  - hueving 12y ago
    I don't think you know what the word "shill" means. You can't just use it as a term for people that have a different political view than you.
    - juliangregorian 12y ago
      I don't think you know what the word "political" means. You can't just use it as a term for people who uncritically spew whatever bullshit they were fed out their mouth hole.
      - refurb 12y ago
        You're spewing incorrect information on Medicaid. What's the saying about living in a glass house and throwing rocks?
  - refurb 12y ago
    Medicaid does nothing for most and even for those who qualify it gives nothing in the way of preventative care What? That's patently false. Medicaid provides access to a wide range of providers and requires almost no financial contribution (you get a prescription filled and it's $3-5; if you can't pay it's free). As for preventative care, it's actually a focus of Medicaid! There are numerous programs offered that provide preventative care for pregnant women and children. [1] [1]http://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-chip-program-information/by-topics/quality-of-care/quality-of-care.html http://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-chip-program-information/by...
- intopieces 12y ago
  >A mere 1% of US labor earns the minimum wage Would you mind citing your source for this? It seems to me you could claim anyone making ≥$7.26 per hour - even part time workers - as "not earning minimum wage," a metric that is not particularly encouraging given the cost of living exceeds even the earnings of a person making that for 40 hours a week in most places - nevermind that people making around this wage are often kept below the number of hours that triggers mandated benefits.

adventured 12y ago

What are you talking about? "Horrors like that rich people only live in compounds surrounded by walls and armed guards, and the poor are dying because of no health care and no food, and the middle class does not exist." The poor have essentially universal free healthcare in the US and have for a long time. I should know, I've used it before, and it's very easy to use. The poor also have the benefit of the one of the largest welfare states on earth, including the largest food and subsidized housing programs. The US has the world's largest true middle class, with a median income among the highest of any country. A mere 1% of US labor earns the minimum wage, and the majority of those people are below the age of 25. The US also has a higher labor force participation rate than nearly all of Europe - while simultaneously having a high median income. The US has a lower unemployment rate than: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Greece. And while Europe rolls around in a near depression, with Europe's GDP still at 2007 levels (since 2007 the US has added $3.5 trillion to its GDP) and high unemployment, US wages are expanding at the fastest pace in a decade, while unemployment keeps falling, which will drive even faster wage growth in the next few years.

ptaipale 12y ago
I'm talking about rhetoric that's used, particularly in the countries you mentioned in the unemployment list. I didn't say I believe the rhetoric. I just say that elections are never far away, and that kind of talk - how bad the U.S. is - gets votes.
juliangregorian 12y ago
My b.s. meter is tingling at a lot of what you said (enough that on reddit I'd accuse you of being a shill), but you're being blatantly disingenuous about healthcare. It's true that emergency rooms won't turn anyone away (and maybe you bailed on the resultant bill as a "poor" college student), but Medicaid does nothing for most and even for those who qualify it gives nothing in the way of preventative care.
- hueving 12y ago
  I don't think you know what the word "shill" means. You can't just use it as a term for people that have a different political view than you.
  - juliangregorian 12y ago
    I don't think you know what the word "political" means. You can't just use it as a term for people who uncritically spew whatever bullshit they were fed out their mouth hole.
    - refurb 12y ago
      You're spewing incorrect information on Medicaid. What's the saying about living in a glass house and throwing rocks?
- refurb 12y ago
  Medicaid does nothing for most and even for those who qualify it gives nothing in the way of preventative care What? That's patently false. Medicaid provides access to a wide range of providers and requires almost no financial contribution (you get a prescription filled and it's $3-5; if you can't pay it's free). As for preventative care, it's actually a focus of Medicaid! There are numerous programs offered that provide preventative care for pregnant women and children. [1] [1]http://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-chip-program-information/by-topics/quality-of-care/quality-of-care.html http://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-chip-program-information/by...
intopieces 12y ago
>A mere 1% of US labor earns the minimum wage Would you mind citing your source for this? It seems to me you could claim anyone making ≥$7.26 per hour - even part time workers - as "not earning minimum wage," a metric that is not particularly encouraging given the cost of living exceeds even the earnings of a person making that for 40 hours a week in most places - nevermind that people making around this wage are often kept below the number of hours that triggers mandated benefits.