You never answered my question: Why does Sweden have confiscatory Taxation?
Here you go: Taxation in Sweden - Wikipedia
Because most people seem to agree with it?
That doesn’t answer why and you know that damn well. Look, if you cant take the heat stay out of the MB. No one here thinks America is perfect. But you have been proven wrong on several of your bullet points. But there is one way the Sweden fails in a basic human right- the right to keep & enjoy what you earn- or at least a fair chunk thereby. Swedens overall tax burden is about twice what it is in the USA. Yes, we only have a rudimentary socialized healthcare system, so we lag a little in that dept. But Sweden, in order to get that, has given up another basic human right.
There are many reasons that issues in the U.S., U.K., and Sweden are not yet resolved. That doesn’t mean that they won’t eventually be resolved in the future but I can guarantee that not everyone will be happy with the results.
Both sides of an issue have valid reasons for believing the way they do. The difficult part is trying to convince everyone to believe as you do or at least reach a compromise that a majority will find exceptable.
Proper presentation is a key element to reaching a compromise. Asking why a country hasn’t resolved an issue is one thing. Suggesting that the other side is engaged in “really bizarrely out of date debates” isn’t going to convince anyone to change their mind. It will make people defensive and will detract from the attempts to actually resolve an issue.
Simply stated, many issues in the U.S. aren’t resolved because the tax-paying voters in the U.S. aren’t done “resolving” them yet.
So what DO you think the point of this thread is? What’s the real question you’re asking?
Sweden’s a democracy. Question answered.
The way you phrased that, it either isn’t a basic human right, or it isn’t relevant. Obviously, it is up to a given country to decide how precisely to tax itself, including what level is “fair”. The idea that Sweden violates human rights by having high taxes isn’t just wrong, it’s funny. Not to mention that the US actually spends an unusually large amount on healthcare…
Don’t wanna resolve issues.
That’s up to the U.N.
Being taxed at a level you find fitting is a basic human right? My, my. What are you smoking? Can I have some?
Considering that health care - and other social benefits - cost money, is the fact that of the two countries mentioned, the one with the lowest tax rate also has the worst public healthcare particularly surprising to you? :dubious:
Exactly. And now you have answered the OP.
America’s a democracy.
Being able to keep part of what you earn? Certainly. The Pursuit of Happiness. Liberty to spend some of your hard earned money on what you want to spend it on.
Of course, we need taxes to support a society. But when such taxes become confiscatory, they take away your rights.
Confiscatory? Are there any taxes out there that are optional?
Well, a few. Tobacco taxes are optional in a way- stop using it, pay no taxes.
But what I meant was taxes at such a level that you dont have the freedom of having any income to spend as you see fit. When the government takes 70%, and you pay the nessesities, there is nothing left.
Which is, of course, bollocks.
I live in Sweden (although am not Swedish) and have have income to spend as I see fit. I’m writing this with a nice iPad that I bought with my disposable income, for example.
I love reading right wingers (and these days far left conspiracy theorists) write about Sweden with such authority when it is clear they know absolutely bugger all about what they are talking about.
Sweden is a Constitutional Monarchy but the Monarchy has no say in government. It’s a parlimentary form of government. The Riksdag choose Fredrik Reinfeldt as Prime Minister because his Moderate Party plus the Centre Party, Christian Demcrats, and Liberal People’s Party holds the majority of seats.
In an actual democracy, everyone person would vote on every issue. Very time consuming.
The U.S. is considered a democratic republic. The presidential electors or Electoral College has selected every President, from George Washington to Barack Obama.
I can call two Senators and my Congressman to make my views on every pending vote known to them. I wanted to know if Swedes also had direct access to their elected representatives or do they “elect and forget” allowing the Riksdag to make all the choices. I don’t know. That’s why I was asking a Swede.
That’s false. America still has not passed ENDA. Housing rights and next-of-kin rights are also not protected under federal law.
How would a system work where you don’t have access to elected representatives?
The system your asking about would be some type of one-party dictatorship. You could vote for candidate “A” or chose not to vote. Candidate “A” wins, the dictatorship declares that Candidate “A” was freely elected by the will of the people, and the legislature rubber stamps the edicts of the dictator.
Well speaking as a progressive living in suburban Atlanta, that’s pretty much the situation I am in now. I have not voted FOR any of my elected officials in decades.