[Torie]

Actually there is a huge efficiency difference. And this bit about high taxation levels causing folks to work less is not proven. The Laffer Curve is a fraud. Of course at some level it does obtain, but not at the 50% level. But living in America with a high income is simply splendid. The pension rules are really quite amazing. I sock 25K a year into the pension, now up to 40K, along with my two partners, and we give the secretary about 2K. Isn't that grand?

[jlogajan]

Actually there is a huge efficiency difference.

You are actually describing (or at least alluding to) different flavors and manifestations of socialism.

Pre-tax or post-tax socialism is still socialism.

[Dat]

You were always squishy but I didn't think you were a lib. Consider the source, Rueters and the Swedish political establishment (yes even the "centre right") aren't exactly known for promoting right-wing view points.

Besides that, if the Swedes have their "quality of life" enhancing qualities such as low crime and longer vacations, the U.S. must have it's own, such as climate, geography, and social mobility which probably counter balance many of the advantages the Swedes have.

[the bottle let me down]

The Laffer Curve is a fraud. Of course at some level it does obtain, but not at the 50% level.

The Laffer curve is not a fraud. It may be a tautology, a truism, or self-evident, but it isn't a fraud. The question merely is at what tax rate produces maximum revenue to the government over a period of time. The curve exists, and depending where the maximum is, tax cuts might result in increased revenue.

Two additional points:
(1) the rate that produces maximum government income probably is not universal, but changes for a given society based on a variety of social factors.
(2) You're wrong to focus purely on a person's marginal incentive to work. High taxes distort the economy and reduce growth in other ways--primarily be diverting investment from the most productive use to other uses that are tax favored or to consumption. Therefore, a reduced tax rate may not affect hours worked but still increase government revenue due to greater economic growth than otherwise would have occurred.

[ninenot]

I sock 25K a year into the pension, now up to 40K, along with my two partners, and we give the secretary about 2K. Isn't that grand?

Nothing in the American system prevents you from doing what's right for your secretary.

Your imbalanced pay plan is not American, per se; it does, however, demonstrate that you and your partners are greedy.

You used the Enron model?

[Jesse]

I sock 25K a year into the pension, now up to 40K, along with my two partners, and we give the secretary about 2K. Isn't that grand?

I don't know who you are other than a very full of himself jerk, but nobody is making you screw your secretary over now, are they? I guess it just comes natural to you...you sound like a lawyer.