[eeman]

Relative to the US, the the top tax rate of 48.5 percent is not that high. I wonder if there are other local taxes or social security taxes that are not included in this figure.

Consider: Our top federal rate is 36%. The Feds start phasing out deductions at around $160,000 per individual return. Therefore, the top rate rate really becomes around 40%. If you are unlucky enough to live in California or some other hight tax state, your marginal rate then becomes around 48-50 percent, plus all the other taxes you pay. The Germans also have a reasonably efficient health care system as a benefit of their taxes. Who are the bigger socialist? The Germans or us?

[jalisco555]

The real issue in Germany is the total lack of new private sector job creation. It isn't just taxes but the whole socialist structure which prevents new business formation, old business destruction and the kind of economic flexibility that we take for granted here.

[americanbychoice]

well, you are wrong. That is only the tax rate, add to thata healthinsurance rate (mandatory) of 15.2 %, Social security of 19.5 %, Vat of 16% on all purchases, Ecology tax of 8 % on all purchases, 80 cents fuel tax per liter, a new tax on electricity, natural gas ,etc.,etc. After all that you get to the tax rate. By the way, this is only what the worker pay,the employer is taxed as well. Would you like to explain the "free health insurance" again please? Noithing is free Hillary.

[Southack]

"Our top federal rate is 36%. The Feds start phasing out deductions at around $160,000 per individual return. Therefore, the top rate rate really becomes around 40%."

No, that's not how it works. Your top possible tax rate doesn't go UP when you phase out deductions. Deductions only LOWER your tax rate.

Also, your numbers are out of date.

Old pre-2001 U.S. Tax Code

Bush Plan

Single			Single
$0	$27,050	15%	$0	$6,000	10%
$27,050	$65,550	28%	$6,000	$27,050	15%
$65,550	$136,750	31%	$27,050	$136,750	25%
$136,750	$297,350	36%	$136,750	--	33%
$297,350	--	39.6%

[Southack]

"Relative to the US, the the top tax rate of 48.5 percent is not that high."

I disagree. Compare people in the U.S. earning between $55,000 and $137,000 to those in Germany. The tax rate for that bracket in the U.S. is no more than 25%. In Germany, the tax for that bracket is 48.5%.

In other words, their income tax alone is roughly DOUBLE the taxes that Americans pay.