I'm confused about the American Republican party

[kandrathe]

Well this is a problem of right wing parties. I mean left wing parties at least say they want to use taxes. Or even raise taxes.

Sort of. Their deception is that they claim to want to raise taxes on the wealthy, but in practice they can't get enough and end up taxing the upper middle, and middle middle classes.

Republicans (in the US, but this is what the right wing does in every country) are able to sell the lie that taxes are bad. And I mean that is fine, that is their choice and right, but please also be honest about the consequences.

I dunno. It's a balance right? There is a negative economic consequence to not investing in uplifting people through the effects of poverty, ignorance, and inequality. But, there is also a negative consequence to raising taxes so high that you stifle economic growth. So, the way I see it is that yes, taxes can be bad... But then, so are the lack of taxes when it results in a crumbling infrastructure, a lack of education, a high misery for vast portions of the populace.

In the US furthermore it is of course a problem because you have socialism for the rich. As system that is overly protective of those that can already protect themselves.

::nod:: This is what I was refering to before where the people in power vote themselves the money (and borrow from the future prosperity) and pretty much ignore every other trouble.

Still it is all a question of what you find important. I mean if we in Holland would be happy with the same road quality as they have in Italy or the US, we could also bring down are tax brackets at least 10 % for the coming 30 years. But still, cars are driving around in Italy and the US, so maybe we are indeed just overspending for nothing.

Our road quality is pretty good. Don't ask about the bridges though. The trouble with infrastructure is that you need to replace it eventually after 50-60 years, and since most of ours was built during and just after WWII it's all reaching its end of life around the same time. But, we didn't plan ahead. Now when we need it, the coffers are empty and the debt is sky high already.

The more I compare the US and the Netherlands the less I find that is that much different, well other than size and total population. There are a few crucial legal differences, but mostly were pretty similiar there as well. The first time I went to Europe I drove from Amsterdam to Vienna, then to Rome -- then took trains, boats, and a plane to get to Athens and drove all over Greece. I expected the Autobahn to be like our interstates. But, it was beat up and delapidated. Our freeways are much better than they were, and at that time we were only allowed to drive 55 mph on ours.

There are parts of the north and eastern US that are very much like Northern Europe. There are parts of the south and southwestern US that are very much like Southern Europe. I was trying to think of a US state most like The Netherlands... It reminds me a bit of Wisconsin, although there is no comparable city to Amsterdam in Wisconsin. Madison is pretty libertine, but no where near as large.