One aspect of the American tax system that is often overlooked is that people just focus on the federal taxes and not the state, local taxes. I.e. I had a colleague who moved to Virginia because he said the taxes were lower, then he admitted that he didn’t get the same services as he got from Maryland. When we calculated the extra services he now had to pay for, like trash pick up, it was more than what he was paying in Maryland. That usually brings it up to 26% to 30% (and doesn’t include sales tax).
The other aspect of course is healthcare costs. Something like 20% of my salary goes towards healthcare costs. So if you include like for like, it’s usually a myth that the US has lower taxes unless you’re in your 20s, don’t get sick, and don’t need any help. And we always need help sooner or later.
I was at first surprised that J. O'Brien ' How they broke Britain' spent so much time on the press barons, but it made sense in the end. Now we have other media barons too. It's hard to change the political weather when so much money goes the other way, and makes scapegoats of poor others, rather than their rich selves.
The constantly perpetuated and defended myth that the (mostly) privately owned UK news media performs the role of public service, has much to answer for.
If the UK's news media is performing a public service, it should be regulated like a proper public service.
One aspect of the American tax system that is often overlooked is that people just focus on the federal taxes and not the state, local taxes. I.e. I had a colleague who moved to Virginia because he said the taxes were lower, then he admitted that he didn’t get the same services as he got from Maryland. When we calculated the extra services he now had to pay for, like trash pick up, it was more than what he was paying in Maryland. That usually brings it up to 26% to 30% (and doesn’t include sales tax).
The other aspect of course is healthcare costs. Something like 20% of my salary goes towards healthcare costs. So if you include like for like, it’s usually a myth that the US has lower taxes unless you’re in your 20s, don’t get sick, and don’t need any help. And we always need help sooner or later.
Not a problem paying taxes when the poor can’t - massive issue when the rich won’t
Yes, but how do we change it?
I was at first surprised that J. O'Brien ' How they broke Britain' spent so much time on the press barons, but it made sense in the end. Now we have other media barons too. It's hard to change the political weather when so much money goes the other way, and makes scapegoats of poor others, rather than their rich selves.
The constantly perpetuated and defended myth that the (mostly) privately owned UK news media performs the role of public service, has much to answer for.
If the UK's news media is performing a public service, it should be regulated like a proper public service.