Well, the top rate was 35% and is going up to 39.5% this year. Add to that Social Security and the 'self employment tax.' Then add to that the federal gasoline tax of 20 cents a gallon. Add to that the various airport "9/11" taxes (yes, you actually are paying for radiation or 'magnetic scanning' or to have a civil servant grope your crotch.)Strong Eagle wrote:Where did you get that number?CitizenOfTheWorld wrote:entitled to 40%
Dear Leader did not pay that much more either. Paid a bit more in % mainly due to a lot less in Charitable donations.CitizenOfTheWorld wrote:
Now I can't stand Romney and would never have voted for him. But it didn't bother me at all that he manged to pay only 13% tax. I just wish I could afford the top flight lawyers, accountants, etc needed to do that myself.
You have produced a mish mash of fuzzy thinking in your attempt to damn all government in the USA. Allow me to point it out.CitizenOfTheWorld wrote:Well, the top rate was 35% and is going up to 39.5% this year. Add to that Social Security and the 'self employment tax.' Then add to that the federal gasoline tax of 20 cents a gallon. Add to that the various airport "9/11" taxes (yes, you actually are paying for radiation or 'magnetic scanning' or to have a civil servant grope your crotch.)Strong Eagle wrote:Where did you get that number?CitizenOfTheWorld wrote:entitled to 40%
How are state services supposed to be supported? Why, through state taxes, by jingo! There is always an ongoing debate as to the best taxation method, and I prefer a VAT tax on all goods and services as the best way. Why single out income tax? There are property taxes, sales taxes, excise taxes.Then move on to state taxes. Fortunately, Nevada has no state income tax, but most states do, and that's on top of a sales tax, 8.25% here. If you live in Cali, New York or Hawaii, then you are probably past the 50% mark. And the sad fact is, most people don't even think about it.
Which is the whole idea, to keep the public distracted as they would surely be mad as hell if they thought about it. Or to make them feel greedy for not wanting to pay so much. Or to make them think that they are being cheated, NOT BY THE GOVERNMENT THAT"S ACTUALLY TAKING THEIR MONEY AT GUN POINT, but by those 'lying cheating f*cks' who feel they've had enough of it and manage, at the risk of harassment and prison, to keep a little of their wealth hidden. Now I can't stand Romney and would never have voted for him. But it didn't bother me at all that he manged to pay only 13% tax. I just wish I could afford the top flight lawyers, accountants, etc needed to do that myself.
And for this you get a gigantic military industrial complex, bailouts of the to big to fail financial institutions, and a huge army of federal bureaucrats with the power to torment you if they feel like it, and who get payed, on average, more than people working in the private sector.
Anyway, sorry about that. The point of the thread wasn't to turn into s b*tch session, but to evaluate and compare life in Sing with life back home.
Thats hyperbole. If you say racist things while committing a violent crime (or inciting one), then yes it can turn into a hate crime. But just saying things on their own won't get you thrown into jail.Sooner8 wrote:Yes, on the face of it that is true. Try saying something that goes against the grain of PC types, and see where it lands you. You'll be labelled "racists" in a NY minute and then it be labelled as a hate crime.zzm9980 wrote:I'm not sure what 1st amendment assault you're referring to, but the US citizen's rights to Freedom of Speech is still much stronger than almost anywhere else in the world.
Mostly the blatant restrictions on freedoms of expression and speech, and the ingrained discrimination. Go read about the Chinese bus driver's strike, and especially the comments on the articles. Chinese bus drivers were paid less and housed in worse conditions than some of their other foreign peers. That was apparently "ok" because they're Chinese and they're lucky to be here.CitizenOfTheWorld wrote:
What in particular bothers you in Singapore regarding loss of freedom? The total surveillance? Police brutality? Deos it bother every expat or do some just not care about it? Please explain.
Sounds like the very low end of the rental market in Singapore.CitizenOfTheWorld wrote: Ok, maybe Chicago. In NYC a studio will run you 1600 USD a month if you are willing to commute from Brooklyn. About 2000 USD if you're looking for the 'cheapest' part of Manhattan. If you want a one BR, add 600-1000 per month. With public transport, I really wont bother getting a car at all, so non-issue.
Check with the relevant Ministry to make sure your degree/credentials will even be honored. You also mentioned living off of capital gains and dividends, so I assume you have something stashed. The exit tax is the IRS's estimate of the 'fair market value' of *all* of your assets if you were to liquidate it at that point in time. You're charged the rate as if that was income that year, not capital gains.CitizenOfTheWorld wrote: I can't speak to that. I had figured fully trained physicians would still be wanted, but I don't know. As for exit taxes, luckily, Uncle Sam can't tax what I don't have.
I have an easier time breathing in HK or China than I do in Singapore thanks to the heat+humidy and third-world motorbike smell.Brah wrote:Doesn't have the smog of HK either.CitizenOfTheWorld wrote:Again, what bothers you most? I agree, Hong Kong is simply beautiful with the hills and the view of the skyline. Sing just doesn't have that.
Indeed. That's what I will do, assuming I go at all. Still waiting for a specific compensation package. No bridges burned, will maintain all state medical licensees, etc.nakatago wrote:Put it this way: if you get sick and tired of the density, the crowds and the high property prices, you don't have the option of moving into the suburbs or into the country. If you want to get away from the city, you have to get away from the country.
Move to Singapore and try it for a couple of years but don't make it permanent yet. See how things turn out. If you like it, good for you. If you don't, at least you didn't burn any bridges.
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