> The One True Roger wrote:

>> On Mon, 5 May 2008 19:05:21 -0400, I found that "Ed Huntress"
>> optonline.net> Scribbled the following on the bathroom
>> wall:
>>

>>> "Hagar" sahm.name> wrote in message
>>> news:-sydncUVL59YGILVnZ2dnUVZ_sOrnZ2d@giganews.com...

>>>> "Cliff" aol.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:rf0v14p7e4r0658nbqigl75jd0c5a72uh3@4ax.com...

>>>>> Michael Moore: Americans Pay More Taxes Than French, Most of Europe
>>>>> http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0804/30/lkl.01.html

>>>> Rumor has it that Michael Moore is a reaaaalllllly reliable source ...

>>> Checking out what he says about this subject is a piece of cake. Look

>>> OECD reports comparing taxes among nations, and then look elsewhere for

>>> the average Frenchman and American pay for those things he's talking
>>> about -- education, healthcare, etc. I think those latter figures are
>>> available.
>>>
>>> Oh, and notice that Moore says nothing about the French value-added tax
>>> (VAT). It's a killer.
>>>
>>> I haven't looked at these specific numbers but I think that Moore is

>>> by quite a bit, on the averages. Of course, if you're talking about an
>>> individual who's paying for his own healthcare insurance and who has a

>>> in a private college (both situations I faced last year), and you're

>>> close to $50,000 off the top before you eat or buy clothes, we can
>>> understand if you want to commit suicide. There were times it looked

>>> attractive way out. d8-)
>>>
>>> But the French pay more overall, I think.

>>
>>
>> Let's check this out...
>>
>> Health insurance for a family of 4...
>> $950 a month in the USA... about $11,400 a year, add in the
>> deductibles of anywhere from $500 to $3000 a year, and the copays,
>> that's another $1500 to $5000, bringing insurance feels to a total of
>> about $16,000
>>
>> France, about $150 to $200 a month out of taxes, a max of $2400 a
>> year, no co-pays or deductible.
>>
>> Public transportation in France, free, except for 2.5%% tax (average
>> about 15 to 20 a month, $300 max
>> Income Tax, 10%% a month (average USA wage of $20k a year, that's $2000
>> a year.
>>
>> Edcation tax averages about 2K a year
>>
>> So at a guesstimate, the French are paying about 4 to 8k a year in
>> taxes. for an average paying job
>>
>> USA, average income tax for average worker, about $4k a year
>>
>> Edcation ($9000 for a tech degree, $50k or more for a Uni)
>>
>> Telephone tax about $7 a month (check your phone bill)
>> Sales tax (varies)
>>
>> The average american is paying about 8K in taxes, plus the added
>> expense of paying for public transportation ,school loans and
>> insurance with deductibles/co-pays...
>>
>> Yea, France has it a lot better than we do BY FAR!
>>

>
> I would say move there but they wouldn't have you.
>
> But if you were a bona fide native, try starting a business in France.
>
> France is a socialist state. It is difficult to get permission to
> own or run a business in France. Every business must be incorporated and
> each corporation includes a government representative who oversees
> tax collection, union conditions, policy enforcement and business
> decisions. Why? Because business is an extension of the state. That's
> where most of the wealth is confiscated for your "free" services.
>
> Additionally the government takes money for the same item at each
> level of manufacture, distribution and sales.
>
> Nothing is "free".