The state of the (western) world

[Troy]

I am from Australia and we are pretty lucky here. The previous government ran a surplus during the good times and put it away in a Future Fund for the country. When the GFC hit that money was able to be used in stimulus packages by the current government which ensured that we never went into recession. We have a pretty good balance in the ecomony here as we focus on things that we have a comparative advantage in such as mining and agriculture. We still have car manufacturing here which is just a money pit and the sooner it leaves the better. The only reason it survives is because of tariffs on imported cars and because of billions of dollars in grants from the government.

As for taxes we have a progressive system here and whilst it isn't fair it is the right system to have. A flat tax rate for all individuals, like we have for companies here, would be fair but it would leave a massive shortfall in tax revenue that would need to be picked up elsewhere. It is okay to ask for high earners to pay a bit more tax, someone who earns $1 million can afford to pay a higher percentage than someone earning $10,000.

What I wish we had in Australia was a simplified income tax system. We have five different tax rates and I would much rather the government enforce the Ken Henry tax review recommendation and switch to two brackets. Anyone earning $25k or less pays zero tax, everyone above that pays a constant marginal tax rate of 35%. Not worth taxing those that earn so little so cut them a break but tax everyone else the same above that. I am also a big advocate for an increase in GST, sales tax, in Australia. Bump that to 15%, from it's current rate of 10%, and drop a lot of other unneccessary taxes. Basically simplify the entire system.

What I don't agree with with tax rates in some countries is how individuals can be taxed more than 50% after a certain level. It baffles me that anyone can justify taxing someone more than half the money they earn, 50% should be the absolute max. Currently the max here is 45% which is high but not too bad compared to some other countries.

 

[We Are Legion]

I hate it here sometimes. Things are so fucking expensive to the point that they want people to spend money, but how can we? If it wasn't so expensive to live, things would be better.

Oh cry me a fucking river. At least your province isn't corrupted by French Canadian insecurity and scared to death of losing their benevolent French language one day. Quebec taxes are fucking ridiculous. On top of the regular Canada tax we pay on everything, we also have to pay a Quebec tax (which is MORE). 15-16% tax on everything... all just so Quebec can govern itself without having to answer to Canada just so they can preserve their poor man's version of "French culture" which is fucking stupid. And it's stupid because aside from the French language itself (which is butchered beyond belief as opposed to how it's spoken in France), there really isn't any other "French culture" to speak of here. Aside from a small sector in the Old Port with a few old French-style architectures, everything here is North American as FUCK. And never mind the fact you have to be bilingual to land any great job here, that just goes without saying. Even though the business language of the WORLD is English.

Quebec has fucking problems, but at least I can say the country of Canada itself doesn't have half the problems America has right now. The whole situation with North Korea is something that has me a little relieved I'm living here now as opposed to a major city in the US, or anywhere near a major city since Korean rockets are not very accurate. I'm seriously not expecting missiles to just start raining from the sky any given day now, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't put it past the US Homeland Security to inadvertently provoke a war by getting involved in North and South Korea's issues for no other reason than to perpetuate their arrogant self-appointed stance as the "World's Police".

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

We still have car manufacturing here which is just a money pit and the sooner it leaves the better. The only reason it survives is because of tariffs on imported cars and because of billions of dollars in grants from the government.

I look forward to that day, sick of everytime I look at a Euro cars price in Australia realizing how badly we get raped price wise. When Ford Aus just become part of Ford Global and GM decides Holdens ran its course hopefully we stop getting dry humped on import prices.

 

[Mick Donalds]

Lol, all these foreigners with their 1st world problems.

"My taxes are too high!! Wahh!"

Resent the US all you want. I love taking home money that I earned, as opposed to paying for the socialized healthcare and benefits of a nation of dropouts.

 

[ThatGuyFromNukemHigh]

I am just glad my country is not trillions of dollars in debt, has the socialized health care so I never have to worry about my family going broke because someone gets sick, and also gives tax breaks to those who care for their family members if they do get sick.

Taxes are a part of life, and I honestly feel there should be a standard percentage paid across the board to continue to help your country move forward. I also feel there should be a plan in action for those who have never paid taxes, as these people should not get the benefits of those who do. Don't want to pay taxes? don't expect the fire department to show up when its your house burning.

 

[Troy]

I look forward to that day, sick of everytime I look at a Euro cars price in Australia realizing how badly we get raped price wise. When Ford Aus just become part of Ford Global and GM decides Holdens ran its course hopefully we stop getting dry humped on import prices.

It will be a great day. Mitsubishi were given hundreds of millions in SA and then there last car was a massive failure and the plant closed. Holden has dropped back from 3 shifts to one and are now fifth in the rankings of new car sales and are falling further behind. Holden said the other week that over the past 12 years they have received $2.17 billion from state and federal government! They should have used that money to retrain the workers into fields that we can actual excel in.

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

It will be a great day. Mitsubishi were given hundreds of millions in SA and then there last car was a massive failure and the plant closed. Holden has dropped back from 3 shifts to one and are now fifth in the rankings of new car sales and are falling further behind. Holden said the other week that over the past 12 years they have received $2.17 billion from state and federal government! They should have used that money to retrain the workers into fields that we can actual excel in.

Yeah there was really no point in keeping the local car industry going when its inevitable it'll wind up offshore...though that said what Ford have done locally with the current GT and F6 is pretty impressive.