- Sep 16, 2012
- 57,963
- 51,538
- 3,605
But the devil is in the details dude! In the Scandinavian countries, those making less than 50,000, pay 55 to 60% in taxes. You are only looking at the outcomes, and NOT how they get there.
In Scandinavian countries it's actually not uncommon for people to own their first homes in their early 20s. They have much more room and opportunity to grow. There is an over 90% public approval of healthcare. I don't know the exact number for government approval, but that too is up there. All of that is in stark contrast with the United States.
. . let's try to remember, we are comparing, apples to oranges.
Take a look at the Defense appropriations of any of those Scandinavian nations.
Also, bear in mind, those nations have only two levels of government, maybe three, county, city, nation.
We live in a Federated system. We have State and Federal level of government, so there is an extra layer of government and an extra layer of taxation.
Some things, the national government is just NOT supposed to be doing, your STATE government is supposed to be in charge of.
If you want to make European comparisons? Compare the federal government here with the EU, in which case, our federal government does a hell of a lot more.
Also, Sweden has an aristocracy, like Britain. It has a ruling class. Most Americans would never stand for such an outrage, though, they are completely blind to the fact that our blue bloods have white privilege none the less.
The Bush, Clinton, Rockefeller, Roosevelt, Carnegie, Vanderbilt, (Dunham ) etc. they all go back to the very founding of the nation. And, wouldn't expect their progeny to ever struggle.
Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland - Wikipedia