quote:

ORIGINAL: KMsAngel

tweakabelle, are you trying to keep people from our fair country?

don't forget to tell the yanks that we have a socialised healthcare system, that's FAR more likely to keep them away. socialised anything means we're communist, don'tyaknow?

and DON'T tell them, ever, that the timtams and beer are better over here

quote:

ORIGINAL: EternalHoH

Thats why the US will never have a flat tax.

The apparent goal of our plutocracy is to squeeze the middle class out of existence, and our current tax scheme does exactly that.  Our current scheme benefits the uber rich and the uber poor, and a flat tax would reverse that.  Its the middle 100k-250k households who currently take the hit under the present system.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elisabella

quote:

ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

FR

Far too simplistic a comparison.

1. Cost of living is higher than in the US overall
2. In the US there are states and municpalities that require more than the Federal minimum wage, compensating somewhat for geographical differences in cost of living.
3. Minimum wage earners in the US pay no income taxes by the time they get done with all of their credits and deductions, and in fact some actually pay negative taxes. Not sure what is actually paid in Au but it needs to be considered, and not just by comparing tax rates.

1. True, but so is standard of living.
2. The highest state minimum wage is $8.67/hr in Washington.
3. If US minimum wage earners paid absolutely no income tax at all, they would need to make back $12,800 in credits and deductions to make as much as Australians do after tax.

quote:

ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

1. I doubt that.
2. So, whats your point?
3. I said I dont know Aussie taxes. How did you get your 12,800.

• Between 1998 and 2001, past year use of "any illicit drug" decreased in Australia while past year use of any illicit drug increased between 2000 and 2001 in the United States.

• Among teenagers aged 14 to 19, girls in both Australia and the United States had comparable or higher rates than the boys in their country for past year use of alcohol, amphetamines, and cocaine.  The teenaged boys had higher rates than the girls for past year marijuana use.

• The legal drinking age in Australia is age 18 compared to age 21 in the United States; however, the average age of first use of alcohol was earlier for U.S. drinkers (age 15.9 years) than for Australian drinkers (age 17.1 years).

quote:

ORIGINAL: Edwynn




Do not confuse correlation with causality.


For various and sundry reasons, the US has a far higher percentage of dimwits than does any other modern day  so-called "developed economy." The disparity is not left alone to the highest and lowest income groups, but is being aggressively promoted through the education system also, even accepted among aforementioned higher income groups, so as to force all possible into some "co-operatively inclined" group. Who cares about honest problem solving from that. They are encouraged and accede to the dumbing down of their own kids, aside from the few of whatever demographic that see through it.

The countries that thrive are the ones that assess the needs and desires of their citizens and act accordingly. The others take turns going down the sewer drain in succession.

Guess which ones are presented by academia as models? You guessed it.

The idolatry of Rome and Britain never ceases in academia.

Back to the subject ...


If you were the employer, which would you rather hire, hourly wage aside, considering the crap shoot that would be the case in the US, vs. the half-decent chance of a viable employee as might be obtained elsewhere? just off the top  of your head?


PS

Response is intended towards the OP,  not the person at the bottom right.


TY

quote:

ORIGINAL: LaTigresse

I just remember that on the list of happiest countries, New Zealand 6th

quote:

ORIGINAL: truckinslave

Stats comparing the US to other countries don't mean much to me unless they factor in the drug problem here. If you are not a drug user, the statistics for longevity, poverty, etc etc change dramatically. I have no idea of the incidence of, say, crack cocaine in Oz.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Politesub53
Quite simply, if more Americans live until 80 in the US than the UK, then more Americans live until 80. Cherrypicking thy whys and wherefores doesnt alter facts.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elisabella

quote:

ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

1. I doubt that.
2. So, whats your point?
3. I said I dont know Aussie taxes. How did you get your 12,800.

1.

Probability at birth of not surviving to age 60:
Australia - 7.3%
USA - 11.6%

People lacking functional literacy skills:
Australia - 17.0%
USA - 20%

Population below 50% of median income:
Australia - 12.2%
USA - 17%

The only category the US wins in is long term unemployment - 0.4% to 0.9%.

HPI-2 ("A composite index measuring deprivations in the three basic dimensions captured in the human development index — a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living — and also capturing social exclusion.")

Australia - 12.1
USA - 15.4

In this case the lower number is the better one.

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

--

2. My point is that while it is true that state minimum wages are higher than federal ones, the difference is marginal compared to the difference between the US one and the Australian one.

--

3. That would be:

({[(15*40*52 - 6000)(0.85)] + 6000} * 1.0168) - (7.25*40*52)

Or

({[(AU minimum wage * 40 hr week * 52 week year - $6000 untaxable income)(at 15% tax rate)] + $6000 untaxable income} * AUD/USD exchange rate) - (US minimum wage * 40 hr week * 52 week year)

Sources for all numbers are in the OP.

quote:

ORIGINAL: truckinslave

Stats comparing the US to other countries don't mean much to me unless they factor in the drug problem here. If you are not a drug user, the statistics for longevity, poverty, etc etc change dramatically. I have no idea of the incidence of, say, crack cocaine in Oz.

quote:

for a loaf of bread, that is a little more the $2 (US).