> The excellent public services are paid for through extremely high income taxes. I am happy to pay them though as the services and infrastructure provided are exemplary.
Actually, the taxes per capita are about the same in the US and Germany. In fact, they're about the same in all of the major western countries. (Canada is actually a bit behind the US.) Average tax rates are lower in the US, but that's because the US has higher GDP per capita.
Therefore,if Germans get better services, it isn't from more tax money. Given that, it's absurd to think that US public services would improve given more money....
As an American that has recently moved to Germany, I do know that I pay significantly more income tax in Germany. I also know that a greater percentage of the population here is employed compared to the US, and that Germany also has a higher percentage of their GDP come from taxes. I was surprised to read your claims - do you have any good sources for them?
I do agree with you that in the case of US public services, money is not the real issue.
Short version - revenues aren't rates and both spending and gdp matter. (And, some assets aren't taxed - a huge fraction of Warren Buffet's fortune will never be taxed and none of his "I think rich people should pay more" proposals will change that. He's pushing taxes that other people will pay, often folks who he's trying to buy from.)
Yes. The Economist is also heavily advocating closing those `loopholes' instead of increasing the marginal rate. Today, only people with incompetent tax lawyers pay the highest marginal rates.
Actually, the taxes per capita are about the same in the US and Germany. In fact, they're about the same in all of the major western countries. (Canada is actually a bit behind the US.) Average tax rates are lower in the US, but that's because the US has higher GDP per capita.
Therefore,if Germans get better services, it isn't from more tax money. Given that, it's absurd to think that US public services would improve given more money....
No - defence doesn't explain the difference.