Living Well

Quote from lescor:

I can only speak of my own experience. I live in Canada and trade US markets, so my income is earned in US dollars and is going to be the same whether I lived here or New York.

My trading is going well and I'm earning an above average wage compared to most Americans. But because I gain an extra 50% on my profits when I convert them to Canadian dollars, and the cost of living here is lower than most American cities, I'm enjoying a much higher standard of living than a US trader earning the same as me would. And yes, we have free healthcare, and a college education for my kids is about 10% of the cost of most American universities.

If I had a bad year and only scratched out a Mcdonald's wage, I'd still be in business, whereas a trader with the headwind of a high cost of living might have to pack it in. The point I'm making is that where you live can be an edge.
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This sounds darn good. Are taxes high? What's the downside to Canadian citizenship?
 
More questions:
  • If it is true that the U.S. is the primary economic and/or military force in the world, how might this affect the sentiments of non-U.S. citizens?, of U.S. citizens?
  • What would be the difference in sentiment between non-U.S. citizens within nations which have and which do not have access to U.S. wealth? (For example: Canada vs. Uganda)
  • Would foreign sentiment of the U.S. be improved or denigrated should all nations have access to the wealth of the U.S.? (re-phrase: what effect does having the ability to compete for U.S. market share have on a nation's sentiment towards the U.S.?)
 
Quote from swoop[TR]:

just21, you are clueless. Go to France and make an idea of your own instead of listening to other people's clueless assumptions about the anti americanism in France.
It's not at all what you, they think or even what the media portrays.
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totally agreeing with you Swoop.
The American gov't/media created this image of hatred from the French.

They do not in fact hate the Americans more than the Americans hate them.
 
Quote from lescor:

I can only speak of my own experience. I live in Canada and trade US markets, so my income is earned in US dollars and is going to be the same whether I lived here or New York.

My trading is going well and I'm earning an above average wage compared to most Americans. But because I gain an extra 50% on my profits when I convert them to Canadian dollars, and the cost of living here is lower than most American cities, I'm enjoying a much higher standard of living than a US trader earning the same as me would. And yes, we have free healthcare, and a college education for my kids is about 10% of the cost of most American universities.

If I had a bad year and only scratched out a Mcdonald's wage, I'd still be in business, whereas a trader with the headwind of a high cost of living might have to pack it in. The point I'm making is that where you live can be an edge.
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I know that when I started out had I not lived where I live there is no way I would have made it. There are still area's in Iowa that you can buy a nice house for $25,000 or rent for about $200 a month. (not where I live, but it is still cheaper here then in most places. ) etc.

Brandon
 
Income tax in Canada is generally higher than in the US, but not by an outrageous amount. In the top tax bracket you will pay 40 something percent. There are other things that bring it pretty close in line though. Our property taxes are lower and we have higher limits for tax free retirement contributions. Then there's that free healthcare thing. The 50% bonus on the exchange rate makes up for all the rest.
 
If you live in one of the three big Canadian cities "quality of life" is higher than the US. For the most part one does not have to worry about personal safety for oneself and especially for one's kids. If you like to eat out restaurants are top notch and imported wine is cheaper than in the States. Downsides are cold weather, consumption taxes and truly immature and dumb politicians.
 
Jacques Chirac has used anti-war feeling to, appease the 10% of the population who are muslim, and increase his popularity to get re-elected so he can stay out of jail. He is going to face corruption charges when his presidential immunity runs out. The anti-us/uk feeling he whipped up led to the desecaration of British war graves. He is trying to lead the EU to a position where it can check American power even if it means supporting dictators.
 
If you take all the US taxes - local, state & federal - I can't see that there is that much difference between the US & Europe...some European countries (Switzerland for instance) have much lower taxes than the US and some (Sweden) higher.
 
Quote from lescor:

Income tax in Canada is generally higher than in the US, but not by an outrageous amount. In the top tax bracket you will pay 40 something percent.
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but the 40+% triggers on much lower bracket ...
 
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