Reply #33: This is why it's so hard to quantify [View All]

[SoCalDem]

I read up on Denmark's system a while back, and of course their income taxes are about 50% of their income, but they are (were) the "happiest people" on earth according to an annual poll.

When people were asked why they were not angry to be "losing" so much of their income, they could not understand why they should be angry. One young man's comment summed it up.

nothing out of pocket for:

education through phd level
medical of any kind
medicine of any kind
4-6 wks of paid holiday
1 yr paid maternity leave for both parents
child care once Mom & Dad return to work
union wages for most jobs
unemployment compensation as long as one is unemployed
pensions for the aged
housing subsidies
accessible & good public transportation.

This pretty much frees up all take home income for whatever they want to spend it on.