BBC NEWS :
A group of rich Germans has launched a petition calling for the government to make wealthy people pay higher taxes.
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To get this in perspective ... the most wealthy Germans already pay 45% income tax.
THe highest tax bracket for Americans is 35%.
Actually is lower then 35 percent way lower someone earning 60,000 basically pays more then a third while a billionarie like Warren Buffet admits he pays less percentage. He admits that is socially and morally wrong but he cannot change the tax code. WIth exemptions and loopholes it can be often be zero percent.
In New York.....you end up paying more than 50%..federal, state and city tax....not to mention real estate etc etc.
Ok, this proves that Germans are just better people than Americans.
It does seem that way doesn't it?
It appears to me, that they grew up and realized all the B.S. (of warmongering. power grabs and greed) are JUST NOT worth it. Amazing how that works after you almost destroyed yourself and everyone else in the process, how priorities change.
Too bad, the US still acts like a spoiled, know it all teenager!
This would never happen in the USA; people are much to greedy and selfish.
Actually if you compare private philanthropy in the US with that of Germany and other European nations you'd find it almost nonexistent in the latter.
That is because they don't need to. Think about it.
Over the past several years tensions have been developing between the Swiss and Germans because so many Germans are moving to Switzerland to evade taxes. Maybe tomorrow they'll have 45 signatures on their petition. LOL.
Never in America.
My uncle had recieved great health care in Munich Germany. They keep you in the hospital longer--unlike the US, where they bounce you out the door--insurance or not.
I have health insurace but with a 102 fever, vomiting, crying in severe pain/neurological symptoms and dehydrated, I was not admitted to the hospital--just kept in the ER on a cot in the hallway for over 24 hours in a private California hospital. Were beds available? Yes, but I was not admitted.
My insured friend was in an auto accident, broke his arm, had emergency surgery, was discharged the next day in severe pain. The insurance company refused to pay another day. When I was not there at noon to pick him up (stuck in traffic), they removed him from his bed, sat him up and a wheelchair and left him alone in the hallway with no care. Private hospital Fairfax, VA.
My insured friend had a baby in the AM, was discharged exhusted/overwhelmed 5 hours later from a private Alexandria, VA hospital.
My uncle had brain surgery in Munich--his stay--30 days.
You're not being very patriotic. All of these "incidents" are just great examples of how insurance company profibility and hospital administration firm profbility ought to be maintained. You all should be proud of the service you've done to the nation's rich.
If only in America...
C
regeanonmic work!!http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/23/rich-germans-demand-highe_n_332076.html#
I know this is a radical notion, but I even know AMERICAN rich people who say they would be willing to pay more taxes. As one said, "This country has been good to me. I've made a lot of money. I SHOULD pay more taxes than someone who hasn't been so lucky."
They also agree, however, that what they object to is their money going to the proverbial $400 toilet seats, the senatorial "fact-finding missions" to Bermuda, etc. etc. But education, infrastructure, health care? They're all for it.
All rich people are NOT greed hogs, despite the shining examples on TV and in the health care industry and on Wall Street and--okay, maybe MOST rich people are greed hogs, but not ALL of them. Not only can't you take it with you but for most of them, they can't even spend it in their lifetime. There is something called "too much money." I'm no where near it, but I hear it exists.
Funny thing in this country is that some poor people actually protested against the rich having to pay more taxes. Only in America!
Chedet,
The teabaggers--LOL!
Imbeciles!
Don't you see the patriotism in this? The poor, dimwitted folks want to pay more themselves so the rich get tax cuts. This means the rich can buy bigger cars, houses, maybe a yacht.
Then the poor have some place to work - as maids, gardeners, tire-changers.
Trickle down, a success story for all of us.
Wendy,
Well said.
I hope this is sets a precedent globally.
Those Germans, for centuries, they have been brining wisdom and sanity to the world.
Rich Germans are not that patriotic. Patriotism got lost in the years after the war and nobody really cares. A win in an international soccer match is fine but who cares ? Even volunteer work and charity are much more found in the USA than over here.
I agree there are many rich people in Germany ready to share some of their wealth as they know YOU CANNOT TAKE ANY MONEY WÌTH YOU. In fact what hirnlego has posted below comes close to the truth: it's a balance thing, helping others also helps yourself. And I bet most of them have an education that goes beyond the big car, big house fantasy. Class and style are hardly bought with money. Just look how tacky the homes of many celebreties are, expensive but no style.
Unlike Americans, Europeans have the biggest tax shelter....move to a tax haven.
Right now there are 2000 social welfare cases coming into the German courts every month. This represents a huge added public cost. Even the microscopic portion of "wealthy" people noted in the news article could help by settling these cases to the advantage of the recipients by setting up some financial help organization. The money would be used in a more effective manner by avoiding the added cost of an enormous government bureaucracy. These "wealthy" persons are acting in the typical German moralistic manner.
Correction: the number 2000 cases/month is for for Berlin alone!
Europeans for the most part are progressive thinkers. Even if it would not pass, it was a nice gesture.
Of course most of the cash is already in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco.....
As is the American rich...
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First Posted: 10-23-09 03:36 PM | Updated: 10-23-09 05:53 PM