Consider myself pretty much a conservative; a person earns his money for living and taking care of family and live in a world without much government intervention (small goverment) and no hand from the government into my pocket (was it last week income tax deadline?). And do welfare by voluntary, not mandatory. An idol on this kind of philosophy was Reagan, the actor? as the Doc asked in disbelief in Back to the Future :) OK, he is gone. Ron Paul is still around.
When I bumped into this article
Going Dutch, it surprised me the OTHER side in fact is not as bad as most (conservatives) said or projected, at least from US stand point. Read on some notes I have captured (of course, full credits to the author):
1. 52% income tax...WTF!!! note: if added up all taxes in US, it's close as well. 35% is max for income tax in US.
2. 4 weeks of vacation time, minimum, and by law. in some part of the world, it's called annual leave
3. vacation money (yes, check will be mailed before summer holiday. 8% of annual salary from employer on of the salary - you get 108%. if unemployed, it will be provided by government at base amount, to make you a better person for the next job opportunity-it keeps you from depressed)
4. school book (if you have kids)
5. child benefit (until 18yrs old, it pays quarterly. because the government believe it's costly to bring up children)
6. childcare (for small kids, ~$14000 per year as reported), the benefits start when the child is born, with people come to do the laundry for ya and housework for the first couple of days, then the childcare and so on...
7. more collabortation among the government, the employer, and the employee, for joint interest. In US, unions and employers are adversaries.
8. the social-welfare kind of socialism system follows Martin Luther and Franscis of Asiss, not Karl Marx.
9. the Dutch is free marketers, one of the pioneers in stock market - capitalism!!!
10. They are also being fair, almost everyone covered by medical, rich or poor, the difference, for something extra, you pay.
11. Illegal to refuse to a client from insurance company, or to charge more for age or health condition
12. no endless forms or concern over malpractice over medical - it is just go in and see the doctor, with house call for elderly - huh? what's that?
13. the Dutch still complained about the government, no lesser than the US but they believe in society. So, smoke all you can, the insurance will still cover at same price?
14. 1/3 housing is social housing where qualified people buy at lower price. One can still keep+live there from school days (low pay) until...well, one still can live there even already highly paid many years later
15. most shop closes when you are off work - same business hour for many...!@#$%^& I cannot live without 24hr grocery
16. these people are lazy who lives on government handout? they are more productive per the working hours, and in fresh and calm manner
17. almost none business email during off hour...WHAT DO YOU MEAN???
18. Dutch kids are ranked #1 whereas US ranked bottom 2 among kid well-being in 21 developed countries.
And the last lines: what if I have a heart attack? what happens when I turn 65? something to ponder with, seriously...am I living in a better environment, socio-, financially (hey, close to half of total income can be net income - real net income)...college fund? what college fund?
it could be a much rosier picture than the reality? ...but there is always an alternative...
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