They are paying 42%, and they get a whole lot more benefits than we do and work less hours in a week. And the tax is closer than you think. In Germany when you buy a home, you are taxed one time. Here it is a yearly ritual of thosands of dollars.
At least here you have freedom..
We're also three times the size of Germany...
They have freedom there as well, and take those 45 day mandatory vacations all over the globe, or relocate if they wish. Speaking of free, they have free cable TV.
And what does being three times bigger mean? That we have three times as much cash, yet we don't give our citizens free medical, 200+ computerized autobahns & bullet trains, or a living wage retirement, etc.
While capitalism demands you go fight wars, socialist country's improve their lot and country, leaving America in the dirt and trillions of dollars in debt to communist country's. We are the biggest debtor nation in the world, with workers who work longer hours for less, and pay taxes that offer little in benefits.
We could be technically advanced like the EU, it is only a state of mind in how we allow government to prioritize our assets.