quote:

Nice to see you comparing yourself to second- and third-world countries. That's the most honest thing in your post. See, the median household in the US, by Norwegian standards, is so far below the poverty line as to qualify for emergency aid, and by German standards, is below what is considered the existential minimum. When Norwegians think of third world countries, if we haven't actually seen one, what we imagine is what in reality passes for getting by in the US.

60% of households in the USA have a gross income below $58K, going by 2005 figures.

Your median is $46K, and your average is $63K.

By contrast, in Norway, about $54K net income (i.e. after tax) for a household of two adults with no children is being poor. At that level of income, the usual copayment of up to $350 per year for healthcare is covered by emergency aid, so scratch that expense from the comparison. There is virtually no tax in this bracket, either, obviously, since it's below the point where you could reasonably be expected to contribute financially to the community. The average gross income here is about $90K or so.

The typical¹ American household has $20K or less per year, gross income.

Tell me again how rich Americans are.