Looks like you don't need to be a trader to get financial freedom

luisHK

Not true...There is a wealth tax when I lived in Stockholm (lived there for 5 years)...then there is astronmical VAT..it was 23.7% when I was there. It's probably nearer to 25% now...

If you like government supression and do not need the qwest of financial freedom...well Stockholm is the place to live.

ES

P.S. Believe there is no place like the good ol' USA...

Quote from luisHK:

US will have a very hard time to ever get to scandinavian government (relatively low) debt levels - I'm a bit lazy to doucle check but whereas those countries have strong socialist inspiration, I doubt their civil servants get such ridiculously high salaries and subsequent pensions as related by the OP..

Besides I checked recently the case of Sweden as Stockholm is one of the cities where I wouldn't mind moving and taxation is not repulsive for people living mostly off their capital:

30% tax on capital gains
No wealth tax
No gift tax
No estate tax
More...
 
Wealth tax was abolished in sweden in 2007

https://www.nordisketax.net/main.asp?url=files/sve/eng/i07.asp&c=sve&l=eng&m=02

Besides the No gift tax part obviously offers opportunities, even moreso to foreigners.

Usually in EU, wereas you will get totally ripped off tax wise living on a middle or upper class salary, there are better ways for entrepreneurs and self employed - to get along tax wise. Some governments also simply handicap much more the people living off their work than those living off their capital.

Belgium is stunning btw, atrocious taxes on work but kind of a tax haven for wealthier folks. Unfortunately, as it would have been the most convenient destination for me, I'm not impressed with the quality of life in Belgium though, especially the french speaking part - and Brussels is possibly the ugliest capital city in Europe
 
Also I'm far from convinced at the moment that US is any better than EU in terms of government intrusion in individuals life, or in giving people the possiblity to defend themselves against the government.
 
Nice to see Larry Elison won't be short of a few pennies this Xmas. His pay went up from $70m per year + perks etc.

Can it really be right that the elite have so much they must be hard pressed to spend it all while others are living on the streets ? Whole families pushed into 1 small room. Cruel crapitalism or what.
 
Quote from Humpy:

Nice to see Larry Elison won't be short of a few pennies this Xmas. His pay went up from $70m per year + perks etc.

Can it really be right that the elite have so much they must be hard pressed to spend it all while others are living on the streets ? Whole families pushed into 1 small room. Cruel cRapitalism or what.
More...

He may well expect a tax break from the Republicans

After paying $69m in tax he would still be adequately comfortable unlike 30m Americans and rising !

Strange how the richer a country gets - the meaner they get to their own. Stop paying the Taliban and get your own really poor into work of any sort imho
 
Naturally after I left Sweden they abolish wealth tax..just my luck.

ES

Quote from luisHK:

Wealth tax was abolished in sweden in 2007

https://www.nordisketax.net/main.asp?url=files/sve/eng/i07.asp&c=sve&l=eng&m=02

Besides the No gift tax part obviously offers opportunities, even moreso to foreigners.

Usually in EU, wereas you will get totally ripped off tax wise living on a middle or upper class salary, there are better ways for entrepreneurs and self employed - to get along tax wise. Some governments also simply handicap much more the people living off their work than those living off their capital.

Belgium is stunning btw, atrocious taxes on work but kind of a tax haven for wealthier folks. Unfortunately, as it would have been the most convenient destination for me, I'm not impressed with the quality of life in Belgium though, especially the french speaking part - and Brussels is possibly the ugliest capital city in Europe
More...
 
Quote from zdreg:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/e...shington-dc-schools-merit-system.html?_r=1&hp
More...
The concept is good - a teacher gets paid well if he achieves good results. A meritocracy, finally!

The devil is in the details - how does one quantify the effectiveness of teaching. I guess if all of the students took some sort of standardized tests every year, it would be possible to take each teachers mean score, adjust for the school district quality and arrive at the teachers ability to teach (including making the students interested). Or look at each student score improvement, though that would be harder.
 
Quote from sle:

The concept is good - a teacher gets paid well if he achieves good results. A meritocracy, finally!

The devil is in the details - how does one quantify the effectiveness of teaching. I guess if all of the students took some sort of standardized tests every year, it would be possible to take each teachers mean score, adjust for the school district quality and arrive at the teachers ability to teach (including making the students interested). Or look at each student score improvement, though that would be harder.
More...

it is a waste of money because the improvement is not quantifiable. the whole process will be usurped by the teacher's union and the bonus money will just be divided up without any conclusive criteria.
schools have received poor grades because they started at a high level and there was not much room for improvement.
ny spends 2.5 times per student than utah. what does ny get for its money?
 
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