Return-Path: Received: from pop3.olsusa.com ([63.150.212.2] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 3.4.5) with ESMTP id 770692 for rob@logan.com; Sat, 28 Apr 2001 08:05:31 -0400 Received: from wind.imbris.com ([216.18.130.7]) by pop3.olsusa.com (Post.Office MTA v3.5.3 release 223 ID# 0-71175U5500L550S0V35) with ESMTP id com for ; Thu, 26 Apr 2001 02:02:08 -0400 Received: from regandesigns.com (cda131-125.imbris.com [216.18.131.125]) by wind.imbris.com (8.11.2/8.9.3) with ESMTP id f3Q6DLv92177 for ; Wed, 25 Apr 2001 23:13:21 -0700 (PDT) Message-ID: <3AE7BAC2.F97BC562@regandesigns.com> Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 23:05:54 -0700 From: "Hamid A. Wasti" MIME-Version: 1.0 To: lancair.list@olsusa.com Subject: Re: Taxes References: <200104251821_MC2-CDEC-4989@compuserve.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailing-List: lancair.list@olsusa.com Reply-To: lancair.list@olsusa.com <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> << Lancair Builders' Mail List >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> Sorry for going off topic here. Marc Verdi wrote: > Sorry about your luck, that's what you get in a Socialist Society that > redistributes wealth. We just want to keep it from happening in the US, so > we complain and vote. It is already happened here in the US while we were all quietly asleep at the polling booth. The top marginal income tax rate is 39%. Then there is state income tax, which in many states (like California) is about 10%. And don't forget the social security and medicare taxes, which run at about 15% (half of it paid by your employer, all of it paid by you if you are self-employed). Then you have the pleasure of paying another 1% to 2% in taxes on the value of any property you own. And don't forget sales taxes which in many areas are running in the 8%-10% range. While on the subject of sales taxes, there are targeted federal and local taxes in lots of things including gasoline, cigarettes, alcohol, just to name a few. Some of these are fairly substantial When you add it all up, you may find that many of us are not far behind our Finish friends. Some may even be paying more. But wait, there is more... Then there is the issue of what do you get for the taxes you pay. In Finland I am assuming that there are actual schools for children not mere holding pens claiming to be schools like we have in the US. Are universities publicly funded there? What about medical? Comprehensive medical and dental insurance for a typical family of 4 can cost $500/month in the US. If Finland provides reasonable government based long term disability support, then we must consider the cost of comparable long term disability insurance in the US. When you add up the cost of all the additional things that you have to pay for that are not covered by your taxes, you may find that the effective tax rate in the US is higher than in many European countries with "exorbitant tax rates". > Cheers, > Marc Sorry, but I am not in a cheerful mood when I talk about taxes. Hamid >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>