Let's talk about taxes

[black_knight6]

[Stoneburg]

[PkrKat]

[excession]

^^^^^

sounds like you need to move to Canada

actually the best nationality for pro poker players is British by a wide margin - all the benefits of a high tax system (free healthcare etc) and tax treaties with the States/Oz etc but, due to some judge in a horse betting case in the 1920's deciding to use a 'pro' card player as an example of someone who isn't carrying on a trade or profession, zero income tax...

[black_knight6]

[Electrolux]

As for inequality in the US, vs. the rest of the world, I saw an interesting analysis from one of our banks.

It basically compared the 2nd and 9th decile of income in different countries, and calculated how it had developed over a few years up until 2005. They took in the effect of salary increases, tax changes and inflation. And the inflation has been much higher for the 9th decile, since they spend a higher proportion of their income on e.g., food and gas, which has had very high price increease.

Basically the poor people in the US has lost a lot of their purchasing power over these years. There has been a widening gap in many countries, but nothing compares to the development in the US.

[black_knight6]

That's really interesting. A big consequence is that the lack of social programs would, over time, become increasingly burdensome to that class of people. Basically, that sort of study, IMO, helps make the case for satisfucing-style social programs, and the case against a flat tax.