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426 comments on DrumBeat: May 20, 2008

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Prof. Goose on May 20, 2008 - 4:47pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Let's also remember something--much of the price paid in Europe is in taxes, meaning that in some way, folks get something back out of the prices, whether it is a service like rail or maintenance of bikeway, etc.

Paul is exactly right. Imagine paying $8/gal and getting absolutely nothing back out of it.

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fleam on May 20, 2008 - 5:32pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

And thus you describe the dirty little secret: That Europeans may be highly taxed, but they get healthcare, bike paths, a good social safety net, etc out of it. Americans are less-taxed but then have to pay for all these things, which makes Americans the most highly taxed population in the world.

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ccpo on May 20, 2008 - 7:36pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Americans are NOT, I repeat NOT, less taxed. THAT is the great secret nobody knows. When you add up the various state, local and federal taxes, duties, fees, etc., that Americans pay it is equal to the up-front taxation of Europe.

And what do we get for it? Better health care than Europe? Ha! Better education? Ha! Better infrastructure? Ha! Higher life expectancy? Ha! Longer vacations? Ha! More maternity leave? Ha!

America is not the Utopia some liars/ostriches would have you believe.

Cheers

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souperman2 on May 20, 2008 - 7:58pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

"And what do we get for it?"

Oh, Oh, I know this one.

Bigger guns?

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FuturePundit on May 21, 2008 - 7:29pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Do you just like to make up facts? Don't want reality intruding on your fantasy?

Compare countries' government expenditures as a percentage of GDP.

It took me less than 2 minutes to find that table.

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eric blair on May 20, 2008 - 5:35pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

*clap* *clap*

(Wonder if anyone has done a study when that income stream goes away)

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426 comments on DrumBeat: May 20, 2008

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