Social Welfare, Low Taxes, Low Debt

[donttread]

None of which have a population of 350 million.

I never got that argument. First of all we have smaller units called states which can carry out policy. Secondly if we are ten times as large and have 11x the wealth and resources what difference does it make?
Our massive poverty, kept in place by the supposed war on poverty, and ghettos is the problem. But we could over come that.
However , I'm not sure anyone is saying we should adopt their ways. Merely that ways other than ours can work.

[Peter1469]

I don't think taxes are low in the states mentioned in the OP.

[Chris]

I don't think taxes are low in the states mentioned in the OP.

According to https://tradingeconomics.com/country...ncome-tax-rate, top income tax rates are:

Ireland 48.00
Australia 45.00
Switzerland 40.00
Canada 33.00
New Zealand 33.00

Sweden is highest at 61.85.

United States is middling at 37.00.

Bahamas, Bahrain, Bermuda, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates pay 0.

[Peter1469]

According to https://tradingeconomics.com/country...ncome-tax-rate, top income tax rates are:

Ireland 48.00
Australia 45.00
Switzerland 40.00
Canada 33.00
New Zealand 33.00

Sweden is highest at 61.85.

United States is middling at 37.00.

Bahamas, Bahrain, Bermuda, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates pay 0.

And those are income taxes. European nations also have VAT taxes, which adds a lot of taxes to items as they go through the manufacturing process.

[Ethereal]

I don't think taxes are low in the states mentioned in the OP.

[donttread]

And those are income taxes. European nations also have VAT taxes, which adds a lot of taxes to items as they go through the manufacturing process.

We have numerous other taxes as well. Sales tax, special product taxes, hotel taxes, DMV, etc

[Ethereal]

We have numerous other taxes as well. Sales tax, special product taxes, hotel taxes, DMV, etc

And tariffs.

[Dr. Who]

Several countries are able to maintain low levels of taxation and debt even with a robust system of social welfare.

Examples include: Canada, Australia, Ireland, Switzerland and New Zealand.

Citizens of those countries generally enjoy a very high quality of life.

Their countries are safe, prosperous, and stable.

So how are those countries able to maintain low levels of taxation and debt while providing comprehensive social welfare?

Could it be that none of them are paying for a gigantic military empire that is trying to control the planet?

Why doesn't the US try something similar? How about Americans just pay for DEFENSE and let the rest of the world worry about its own problems? That's what the founders practiced and preached. Perhaps we should do the same.

Bingo. You got it in one. Behind every military adventure since WWII (and before WWII for that matter) have been agendas that have no philanthropic or humanitarian goals. The military extension of US foreign policy has feet of clay, totally grounded in advancing special interests and not in protecting the interests of Americans in general. Follow the money and it becomes obvious who gives the State Department its marching orders.

[PJL]

America has become an oil company with an army.....the needs and well-being of American citizens is way down on the priority list. The MSM is just a department of the oil company , which keeps the citizens quiet enough so they can do business.

[Peter1469]

We have numerous other taxes as well. Sales tax, special product taxes, hotel taxes, DMV, etc

VAT is huge. There was an article this week with taxes the Dems are proposing, and the VAT would generate by far the most revenue.