“The wages of the average American worker, after inflation and taxes, have decreased 17% since 1973, the only Western industrial nation to so suffer.”

The book was written in 95 based on earlier info, hmm in only 20 some odd years the average American worker lost 17% of his buying power. Now 2 people per household are working to purchase what one worker used to. The Fed's exponential growth of the fiat will soon have that up to 4 or 5 workers per household Gross has written some excellent stuff on the destructive nature of government.

I'm glad someone is keeping track of this.I can't say I'm surprised.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/houstoned/2008/04/duck_season_rabbit_season_tax.php

Gotta take a look at the US's PPP; it doesn't look so hot.

Lying with statistics. What this says is that the US taxes were well below that of other countries. A little catch up simply makes the stats look bad. "In 1999 before the tax (Bush) cuts, the US already had the fourth-lowest tax to GDP ratio of the 30 industrialized nations from North America, Europe, and Pacific." Taxing Ourselves: A Citizens Guide to the Debate Over Taxes. Be careful not run with any line thrown to you.

The tax rate may be lower than the average socialist nation, but the US inflates its currency faster than the rest -- thus the dollar's value is a fraction of what it was a couple years ago against the Canada dollar, British pound, and obviously the Euro. Ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation allows the US government to devalue the currency so much that no matter what we pay in taxes, our so-called money is worth merely a fraction of what it once was in our lifetimes.

The US Dollar is the preferred currency throughout the world. It may be lousy because it is paper currency but it is the best paper currency in the world.

I don't care what labels you attach to the other 30 industrialized countries but the facts remain. Many folk visit, immigrate and enjoy the other countries, their economies, culture and life styles.

We hear all these things and yet it seems things are so much better than the 60's or 70's. The average person has so much more. Not only that the opportunity we have seems greater. Our productivity has been so far advanced through technology that it takes a fraction of the labor to produce a considerable increase in product. My kids have had it so much easier to get a house and support a family that I did in the 70's it is ridiculous. Granted the inflation and economic damage that was done by LBJ printing money (set up S&L mess) along with Carter's incompetence and Nixon price and wage freeze the 70's were horrible. It has been much better since. It is hard to believe any statistics any more with how they are so easily manipulated. Listening to the radio on the way to work I hear about price inflation caused by food and gas prices and hear that only certain items are tracked to come up with the figure. Obviously you can come up with different figures depending on what you track. This brings you back to the agenda of the person doing the tracking. He can make it look as good or bad as he wants.

Waffler every thing is relevant to the situation at hand. Other countries may have higher tax rates but you are comparing apples to oranges. In the Scandinavian countries the tax rate is around 75%. Almost all take home is used for food. The government subsidizes every thing, food, housing, transportation you name it. I know this sounds good to you but it gives the government total control over your life. Do not forget that the consumer pays all tax. Just because a corporation sends taxes into Uncle Sam does not mean corporations pay taxes. They merely collect money from the consumer in the price of the product and then pass it on. This keeps you from realizing just how much tax you really pay. That is why the left love taxing corporations. They get to screw you while you thank them for sticking it to the evil corporations that they rant about.

" When the government fears the people, there is liberty, When the people fear the government, there is tyrany". How do you feel when you get that nice , friendly letter from the IRS.

The IRS (Imaginary Revenue Scum)netither asks for money nor collect money. They only ask for paper and only collect paper. In 1920, economist John Madynard Keynes wrote: "If governments should refrain from regulation,,,,the worthlessness of the money becomes apparent and the fraud upon the public can be concealed no longer." The purpose of the Imaginary Revenue Scum is to regulate our consumption by regulating how much worthless mone we use. For other means of regulation, see: www.morpix.biz/x4 and www.morpix.biz/dc

It is time to oust the gangrene called Washington DC. They have defiled the constitution and everything the founding fathers risked everything to establish. It is time to honor those who gave us America and the principles for which they stood.

Waffler, as Warren has so apply pointed out, your apples to oranges comparison doesn't fit the quote's scope of topic. Inflation and taxes (along with commercial and otherwise killing regulation - including Obamacare) are the driving forces that are killing industry or sending it to other countries. The dollar's degradation (inflation, etc.) is also inspiring other countries efforts to drop it as the international standard.