Was listening to the Dennis Miller Show earlier today. Hey, I'm interested in hearing everyone's point of view. He said something that piqued my interest and got me thinking about my many trips to Italy and France.
In discussing the Obama administration and its lofty and expensive plans, he asserted that at some point there will be a tax revolt in the United States.
This is when I began to recall conversations I had with cousins who own businesses in both aforementioned Latin countries. Italy and France, by all accounts once added up, are socialist in orientation. To what degree they're efficient on the matter is hard to say. I would guess France is far more functional than Italy. Regardless, both share a common trait: Each have high numbers of tax evaders and both have substantial black markets. Italy's economy in particular is said to be around 35% underground!
Now I can't speak for the Scandinavian countries (increasingly under duress when it comes to paying for their generous welfare states), or Germany or the United Kingdom but according to people I spoke with in France and Italy, they squarely blame excessive government intervention and intrusion for why this is the case. The bureaucracy in Italy is psychologically abusive to the point where the pragmatic Italian mind finds ways to circumnavigate it. My cousin in Milan freely admits (and proudly) he outwits the government. If he doesn't, they take everything he claims.
My cousin in Paris has a similar story. While he feels France is far more organized, the state's addiction to taxes is no less gross.
Speaking at my cousin's restaurant over a bottle of wine with many a person, at the local and personal level, there was real outrage about the state of their country. The complaints weren't all that different than what we have here. I've always loved the French and their argumentative abilities. It is in his restaurant I learned many of our perceptions of the French are unjustified if not misunderstood - and vice-versa I might add.
They feel the welfare state is bleeding them dry but seem paralyzed when it comes do turning thought into action. They spoke as though they had no liberties left but weren't ready to flat out say it. The legacy of 1789 and their contribution to establishing a free republic in the United States in 1774-1776 seems forgotten.
In my cousin's assessment, he argues if he doesn't be "careful" with his incomes taxes, l'etat can literally take up to 87% of his income! I had no way to verify this but this was his claim.
The French and Italians have revolted - by going underground.
At the pace the U.S. is going, this is possibly how they're going to revolt. Canada accepts tax increases without much fight. The U.S. is not like Canada. They're not apathetic. They're action oriented much like their counterparts in Europe.
We'll see.
The underground economy is fourishing all over the world dear Commentator. Wherever they live humans want services but are loath to pay for them, they want the state to look after so many things but not to collect to pay for them.
ReplyDeleteThe affluent resent paying for the less affluent (sharing, you know?) and the less affluent claim not to be able the share the burden. When will we learn?
Yes, they exist everywhere. In dictatorships, socialist nations, failed states and so on.
ReplyDeleteFrance and Italy are wealthy. Less government = smaller or no black market. How can there be? Superficial and imposed government price floors and ceilings, control of alcohol and so on - lead to it. Remember Prohibition? People find ways to get what they want.
I'm not sure I agree with your position on the affluent. I think that's leftist mumbo-jumbo. In the United States, philanthropy is pretty big.
It's hard to measure these things. Both Canada and the U.S. don't give much to aid, for example, when per capita is considered. But these figures usually just consider government-centric aid. They do not include private endowments, community aid and so on. On this level, I think the U.S. (citizen participation) has everyone licked. The U.S. is the last nation in the West where dependence on government was kept at bay. Under Obama, this has and will change.
Psychologically, there IS a certain classical liberal belief among the affluent in that they don't want to be taken for fools. They feel they should give to who they decide. Coerced giving (socialism) means the money goes to all - including the lazy and misguided. I don't think the affluent have any problems giving to those in need - on the contrary they probably believe it's our duty to do so. But it's to the shysters of the system - which leads to waste and government corruption - they object to.
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