My wife asked me what I thought would happen in 5 or 10 years when the Chinese economy surpasses the US one, as has been stated in the media. I rejected the premise, I said that China has grown on the backs of the USA and without our markets, without preferential access to them in fact, and without stealing all our intellectual property, they are nothing. And you can't base your ecomony on exploiting someone else's and surpass it unless you turn them into slaves or something. And we aren't going to be their slaves if Trump has anything to say about it.
She just thought I was in right winger denial mode. But I stand by it.
Remind her those fellow travelers in the EU pay 50% to 70% of their wages pretax to their respective home country governments - and remind her also that they pay an additional Value Added Tax of 17-21% to their respective home country governments on the take home pay. So take someone in The Netherlands or Belgium where I both lived; 50% pre tax up to 60K Euros, and then 18% VAT on what is leftover.... Add some 2 Euro liter gas or diesel car and not much left for disposable income.
What is the difference between cleaning toilets in the EU for 50K w/50% payroll tax a year, and doctor making 100K Euros at 70% payroll tax - it is literally about 5K Euros; of course you get to contribute to your community as doctor with free education and healthcare, but you make only 5K more. There is no incentive, thus no productivity. The kings and queens and royals remain, the moots and castles are gone, but the surfs remain indentured to their respective country.
Without healthy capitalist, there can be no real advancements for mankind because the political Klass and Owners inside socialism and communism enrich themselves while the surf waits in line.... toilet paper, healthcare, and they can't afford a pizza, microwave oven, coffee pot or electric skillet.