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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"Americans Really Need To Stop Complaining About Taxes"
Americans Really Need To Stop Complaining About Taxesby Wolf Richter at Business Insider
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Eurozone countries are falling like dominos.But bailoutsfunded by taxpayers in other countrieskeep banks from collapsing, governments from defaulting, and investors from incurring well-deserved losses.
Bailout money that no one has. And so it's borrowed. Borrowing is pain free, and easier than collecting taxes. Until its impossible. Hence a debt crisis.
In the US, we talk about revenues instead of taxes. President Obamas budget is circulating, and it has that word in it, causing heart palpitations and conniptions left and right. But how do countries stack up against each other when it comes to taxes?
In the graph below, the 34 countries of the OECD are ranked by the amount of taxes they collected from all sources in 2010income, consumptions, assets, etc., at local and national levelsas a percent of GDP.
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MaineLinePhilly
(72 posts)While many have a right to complain, there are many who need to drink a glass of Chableau-de-STFU!!!! Many want everything but don't want to pay for it. This social security thing is getting on my nerves. ITS NOT SUSTAINABLE in its current format. I'm certainly not counting on it by the time I retire. Either the retirement age has to be raised and/or cuts to higher earners, and/or paying more into it. PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!!
At least in some of those other countries the gov't actually takes care of the poor (not half-ass like we do here), doesn't launch illegal wars, doesn't cater to corporations (as much), restricts gun rights, .. I could go on. Taxes paid as a % of GDP are not too interesting in themselves; I think how the money is spent is much more important.
djean111
(14,255 posts)Well, not in austerity riddled UK, of course, education can be very expensive and student loans just as punishing.
Apples and oranges, though.
The percentage is, of course, very interesting, but it is not like the services received by the people are the same.
Cracks me up when someone says oh, gas is cheaper here - yeah, but higher taxes elsewhere go to social services.
geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)I have no problem with taxes in general. I have a problem with a tax code that disproportionately coddles and protects wealth and the wealthy.
One step in addressing the economic inequity in this country is through tax code reform.
Volaris
(10,274 posts)is FIRST to get Publicly Funded Elections. The Elected "Leaders" have to pay more attention to the interests of WE THE PEOPLE than to their Corporate Overlords.
But yeah, a sane Tax Code would go a long way toward evening thing out (and by sane, I mean a High School Freshman should probably be able to calculate how much, say, Exxon-Mobile should be paying the Government, based on income reported to shareholders).
A twelve-year-old should be able to do mom and dad's taxes annualy. THAT'S sane.