Higher Taxes = Happiness?

[Kber]

Interesting article:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-happiest-places-on-earth-are-heavily-taxed

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- Northern Europeans are the happiest people on the planet, according to a new survey.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development says people in Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands are the most content with their lives. The three ranked first, second and third, respectively, in the OECD's rankings of "life satisfaction," or happiness.

There are myriad reasons, of course, for happiness: health, welfare, prosperity, leisure time, strong family, social connections and so on. But there is another common denominator among this group of happy people: taxes.

Northern Europeans pay some of the highest taxes in the world. Danes pay about two-thirds of their income in taxes. Why be so happy about that? It all comes down to what you get in return.

[mdmc]

1. Somalia has a pretty low taxes

tax and spend liberal checking in.

thanks for the link.

[abluelady]

2. That Should Be A Talking Point

The average, uninformed American believes what he hears over and over. It seems that the other side is very good at repetition. unfortunately, what they repeat are lies. Why don't we repeat this type of story. There are so many stories out there that contradict the Republican talking points but they are not heard by the average, uninformed American. Then, again, maybe those people only "remember" what they want to remember. But being happy sounds like a real good thing to me to remember.

[Juche]

3. Taxes also make things cheaper because they are progressive

Since taxes are spread among the wealthy, poor, middle class and corporations you pay less than you would if you paid privately for something. You can either spend $10,000 out of pocket for insurance premiums or you can spend $3,000 a year in taxes for a more efficient healthcare system funded not only by you but by progressive income and corporate taxes.

Too bad the media is owned by people who have a vested interest in cutting 'taxes', aka their own. Those tea baggers were too oblivious to even know that Obama was going to cut their taxes. But the wealthy individuals and corporations who really pull the strings for the right wing knew their taxes would go up, so teabagging we will go.