I hope April 20 letter writer Clayton Rich, who believes “government is the problem,” has no problem exiting his driveway into a “government funded” public street, or a “government funded” freeway; or perhaps he or his family has a problem with medical bills paid for by “government funded” Medicare; or if he has a problem with education from elementary to university level that is entirely or partially “government funded"; or maybe he would prefer not to have the U.S. military protect our country, which is “government funded.” Living without a functioning government is called anarchy, which one learns about in a civics class in a “government funded” school.
And let’s not forget government funded police, libraries, fire departments, harbors, airports, Supreme Court and legal system, postal service and so much more sending us straight into socialism! What horror!
I read Clayton's letter a little differently. He seemed to be concerned about our woefully inferior position with respect to lithium-ion battery production, and living in a state where the government wants its citizens to drive vehicles powered by such batteries. If that's the problem he is describing, then he makes a good argument for government being the problem.
BTW... all the "government funded" services you mentioned in your LTE... they're not government funded. They are taxpayer funded. The government has no money of its own unless you count the sheets of currency rolling off the printing presses feeding inflation.
100% Ray, 100%. I guess a number of people, including our friend Rudy, don't seem to realize their "free" definition is actually taxpayer-funded money. At least they can take comfort that we're giving them our two cents for free.
A good deal government spending is essential but a lot of it is wasted spending. Government programs should be reviewed for their effectiveness but never are.
When government spending increases by more than the growth of our economy we get an inflation "tax" as we have not. Despite average wages going up this year, inflation reduced the average persons purchasing power below what it was last year.
Our country has always been better off when more money was left in the private sector to start businesses that grow jobs and real incomes. Luckily a majority of Americans know this and they'd never agree to pay the 65% in taxes needed to pay for an EU style welfare state.
Ed: You keep referring to a non-existing tax rate of 65%! Where on Earth did you get that number from? Or, did you make the mathematical mistake again of adding income tax and VAT? That’s wrong, of course, but even if you did, you wouldn’t get 65%! So, did you just cook it up to support your shaky case?
Don't worry, Ed. It's the same ol' Jorg. Europeans generally pay more in taxes. How else would they pay for all the "free" healthcare. When you couple their high taxes with average lower wages... while some destinations may be very desirable... it will cost you a lot to live there. Kinda begs the question... if Europe is so much better than the the US... why would anyone move over here?
Ray: In the part of Europe I know best, taxes are not higher, while wages are just as high as here, while poverty is far less. But “why” anyone would move here, is a silly question. That all depends upon individual situations, interests, and expectations. Personally, I am just fine here, and very happy I came, - for very personal reasons you would know, if you knew the first thing about me. But you missed my main point re. Ed’s twisted math: you can’t just add casually any percentage you can find, like income tax and VAT! Perhaps you can explain it to him? I have tried several times, but he doesn’t get it. Besides, he also seems to confuse average tax with tax brackets.
Finally, what do you mean by “Europe”? Even more diverse than the US!
We have had this discussion before... average EU income tax is about 40% and their VAT is another 21%. Real property taxes fall into the 1-2% range. In the US, average income tax is about 25% and sales taxes average 5%. Property taxes are similar to the rate found in Europe. So, who pays more taxes?
Yes... you can say "Europe" is more diverse. Is that diversity part of the reason we have seen hundreds of armed conflicts since the War of Limburg Succession? Is that appreciation of diversity why we are seeing riots in Sweden?
Let me save you some keystrokes... it's Trump's fault.
So, Ed, can you explain where you got the 65% from? From where in Europe? Ray wasn’t able to, either. Instead, he side-stepped the issue so he wouldn’t embarrass you. Do you still believe you can just add VAT to income tax at any level?
Regardless of how the numbers are combined... who pays more in taxes? John Q or Johann Q? It's a fairly simple question.
If you're going to bring crickets into the discussion, picture Ed holding opened hands, fingers spread with thumbs pointed outward about chin level. Then, Ed rotating those hands 180 degrees inward so they face away from him while saying, "All done!"
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO
personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who
make comments. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Don't threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Anyone violating these rules will be issued a
warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be
revoked.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
(14) comments
And let’s not forget government funded police, libraries, fire departments, harbors, airports, Supreme Court and legal system, postal service and so much more sending us straight into socialism! What horror!
Hello, Jorg
Good morning, Marcyl
I read Clayton's letter a little differently. He seemed to be concerned about our woefully inferior position with respect to lithium-ion battery production, and living in a state where the government wants its citizens to drive vehicles powered by such batteries. If that's the problem he is describing, then he makes a good argument for government being the problem.
BTW... all the "government funded" services you mentioned in your LTE... they're not government funded. They are taxpayer funded. The government has no money of its own unless you count the sheets of currency rolling off the printing presses feeding inflation.
100% Ray, 100%. I guess a number of people, including our friend Rudy, don't seem to realize their "free" definition is actually taxpayer-funded money. At least they can take comfort that we're giving them our two cents for free.
A good deal government spending is essential but a lot of it is wasted spending. Government programs should be reviewed for their effectiveness but never are.
When government spending increases by more than the growth of our economy we get an inflation "tax" as we have not. Despite average wages going up this year, inflation reduced the average persons purchasing power below what it was last year.
Our country has always been better off when more money was left in the private sector to start businesses that grow jobs and real incomes. Luckily a majority of Americans know this and they'd never agree to pay the 65% in taxes needed to pay for an EU style welfare state.
Ed: You keep referring to a non-existing tax rate of 65%! Where on Earth did you get that number from? Or, did you make the mathematical mistake again of adding income tax and VAT? That’s wrong, of course, but even if you did, you wouldn’t get 65%! So, did you just cook it up to support your shaky case?
Don't worry, Ed. It's the same ol' Jorg. Europeans generally pay more in taxes. How else would they pay for all the "free" healthcare. When you couple their high taxes with average lower wages... while some destinations may be very desirable... it will cost you a lot to live there. Kinda begs the question... if Europe is so much better than the the US... why would anyone move over here?
Ray: In the part of Europe I know best, taxes are not higher, while wages are just as high as here, while poverty is far less. But “why” anyone would move here, is a silly question. That all depends upon individual situations, interests, and expectations. Personally, I am just fine here, and very happy I came, - for very personal reasons you would know, if you knew the first thing about me. But you missed my main point re. Ed’s twisted math: you can’t just add casually any percentage you can find, like income tax and VAT! Perhaps you can explain it to him? I have tried several times, but he doesn’t get it. Besides, he also seems to confuse average tax with tax brackets.
Finally, what do you mean by “Europe”? Even more diverse than the US!
Good morning, Jorg
We have had this discussion before... average EU income tax is about 40% and their VAT is another 21%. Real property taxes fall into the 1-2% range. In the US, average income tax is about 25% and sales taxes average 5%. Property taxes are similar to the rate found in Europe. So, who pays more taxes?
Yes... you can say "Europe" is more diverse. Is that diversity part of the reason we have seen hundreds of armed conflicts since the War of Limburg Succession? Is that appreciation of diversity why we are seeing riots in Sweden?
Let me save you some keystrokes... it's Trump's fault.
Ray: Again, how did Ed get to 65%? Adding up all the percentages, after flunking basic math?
Jorg... let's cut to the chase.
Regardless of how the numbers are combined... who pays more in taxes? John Q or Johann Q? It's a fairly simple question.
More sidestepping... no further comment on European diversity touted in your earlier post?
Ed, it’s probably closer to 66.6% in taxes.
So, Ed, can you explain where you got the 65% from? From where in Europe? Ray wasn’t able to, either. Instead, he side-stepped the issue so he wouldn’t embarrass you. Do you still believe you can just add VAT to income tax at any level?
Whoa! No scurrying...
Regardless of how the numbers are combined... who pays more in taxes? John Q or Johann Q? It's a fairly simple question.
If you're going to bring crickets into the discussion, picture Ed holding opened hands, fingers spread with thumbs pointed outward about chin level. Then, Ed rotating those hands 180 degrees inward so they face away from him while saying, "All done!"
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.