I was told growing up that I won’t like socialism once I have to start paying taxes. I pay taxes, but would much rather pay way more taxes to have socialism. Including paying for social programs I wouldn’t use like welfare, free tuition etc.
Once I qualified for work pharmacare that was great! But I remember how much it sucked not having any health insurance. Yeah I bootstrapped it, but I’d hope we would grow up as a species and not have to have so much bootstrapping, since there are better ways at this point.
I live in Sweden, we socialists are not happy about it. Bear in mind that even gross salaries are far lower than the US too.
You have to understand that income is taxed very heavily (56% marginal over about $60k, so 40% average) and sales tax is 25% meanwhile there are almost no taxes on inheritance, property ownership, capital gains or business ownership in comparison.
It really sucks for working people and social mobility. Tax wealth not work.
Wow! I would think if anything, property would be taxed. Thanks for sharing your perspective, these things always interest me.