If Obama is your idea of a Republican, I don't want your idea of a Democrat in o...

Confusion · on Sept 30, 2011

The horror... you might just end up like Germany or France.

rick888 · on Sept 30, 2011

70%+ taxes, no thanks. I thought this was HN, not reddit...

ChrisLTD · on Sept 30, 2011

According to Wikipedia, the German and French personal tax rates are in the area of 50%:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_rates_around_the_world

rick888 · on Sept 30, 2011

This doesn't include VAT and increased taxes in other areas, so personal income tax might be 50%, but you are actually paying a much higher rate.

Confusion · on Sept 30, 2011

You're making numbers up and don't actually know what the aggregate taxes for an average consumer in France, Germany and the US are.

rick888 · on Sept 30, 2011

..and you are basing an individuals total tax rate based on income tax alone, which doesn't account for the many other taxes that someone has to pay.

I suppose if you made money, didn't live in a house, and didn't spend your money in any way, your tax rate would be 50% in France. This just isn't the case for the average consumer.