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Do they also think it's funny that Americans with average incomes refuse to agree to pay the very high taxes Amsterdam income-earners do? Just take a look at the WHOPPINGLY HIGH tax rates and cumulative annual taxes due:
FYI, when looking at cumulative annual taxes due, the Euro is equal to 1.12 US$. So those with an income of the equivalent of $40,000 to $64,500 would pay in national income tax plus national social insurance contributions (retirement, health care): $19,130. That doesn't include any local taxes or Amsterdam's 21% VAT tax.
I was just there in November. They have a different outlook than we do on society. For example, people of means live next door to people in social housing, and if you look down on your neighbor because he's in social housing, you're a dikkhead.
The prostitutes in the red light district look out for the old man who lives on the corner. They have about 250 junkies in the entire city because of rehab programs and the government taking control of drugs and and the sex trade away from organized crime. A prostitute loses her license if she passes STDs to clients.
Now of course that doesn't work here because there's a ME mentality instead of an US mentality. Their first priority isn't their money.
I was just there in November. They have a different outlook than we do on society. For example, people of means live next door to people in social housing, and if you look down on your neighbor because he's in social housing, you're a dikkhead.
The prostitutes in the red light district look out for the old man who lives on the corner. They have about 250 junkies in the entire city because of rehab programs and the government taking control of drugs and and the sex trade away from organized crime. A prostitute loses her license if she passes STDs to clients.
Now of course that doesn't work here because there's a ME mentality instead of an US mentality. Their first priority isn't their money, as you demonstrated yours is.
I've been there too. They are no different than we are. You just need a better crowd of friends here in the USA.
but as we know communism isn't expressed by paper. Its expressed by people.
File it under
"great idea, might work with less people."
Ha, yeah, exactly. My former SIL has lived on a commune since the late 60s. People have come and gone, but it's,a population of about 60. There's no religious affiliation. If you have a drug or alcohol problem, they will intervene and help as long as you work on your recovery. My SIL developed early-onset dementia almost 20 years ago. She is being cared for by the community.
I've been there too. They are no different than we are. You just need a better crowd of friends here in the USA.
I do have those friends here.
I just don't see many on City-Data. There's all this shrieking and hand-wringing about the Thems taking things. And I know those people in real life, too. Oddly, I've noticed that it's the ones who most take advantage of social programs like unemployment benefits, food stamps, and other assistance who scream the loudest about what other people get.
As someone in Amsterdam said during our last election, "we think it's funny when Americans complain about their 'left-wing' party. America doesn't HAVE a left-wing party. It has a right-wing party and a far-right-wing party."
Lots of people in Europe have bizarre ideas about the US. Just because Obama isn't a flaming Communist doesn't mean he isn't well to the Left. He is.
I was just there in November. They have a different outlook than we do on society.
Uh huh... That's why middle-income Americans won't pay the very high taxes it would take to provide all those government services and benefits, unlike Amsterdam's middle-income earners, who are happy to actually PAY for the national government benefits and services they want.
Actually, we have two left wing Big Government Authoritarian parties. Both love big government and both love the elite political class. Both love to spend other people's money. Both love to tell us how to live our lives.
Loving the elite and wealthy is very much a right-wing thing to do. Both left authoritarians and left libertarians call for more economic restrictions to inhibit class inequality, worker rights, and other things. To love the elite and wealthy, and to love the big government, is a right-authoritarian thing.
I love how brainwashed people are thinking what is actually the left... I might just get a headache.
I encourage you to read my link I posted earlier, where Marxist socialists and communists are calling for no gun controls of any kind because it inhibits the working class from revolting against the state. And last I checked, loving the 2nd Amendment was a very Republican ideal here as well. Politics between the left and right are not as cut and dry as you are saying it is, which is why I'm saying you don't know anything about leftist politics. Are you afraid to learn about them, because you might actually like them?
I was just there in November. They have a different outlook than we do on society. For example, people of means live next door to people in social housing, and if you look down on your neighbor because he's in social housing, you're a dikkhead.
The prostitutes in the red light district look out for the old man who lives on the corner. They have about 250 junkies in the entire city because of rehab programs and the government taking control of drugs and and the sex trade away from organized crime. A prostitute loses her license if she passes STDs to clients.
Now of course that doesn't work here because there's a ME mentality instead of an US mentality. Their first priority isn't their money.
Maybe one of these days, ya never know. It's just across the water. It's where my ancestors came from, back when they were farmers and got sick of reclaiming land from the North Sea. There was plenty of good farmland to be had in New Jersey...back then.
But I can live on this side of the ocean and still adhere to the same ideals.
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Maybe one of these days, ya never know. It's just across the water. It's where my ancestors came from, back when they were farmers and got sick of reclaiming land from the North Sea. There was plenty of good farmland to be had in New Jersey...back then.
