JC
@jonathancolton
It's ironic that the countries with the highest taxes in Europe also have the highest happiness Index. High taxes ≠ low happiness. Often, it’s the opposite. Look at the data: 🇫🇮 Finland — 57.3% tax rate → #1 happiest country 🇩🇰 Denmark — 55.9% → #2 🇸🇪 Sweden — 52.3% → #4 🇮🇸 Iceland — 46.25% → #3 🇳🇱 Netherlands — 49.5% → #6 🇳🇴 Norway — 39.6% → #7 These countries have some of the highest personal tax rates in Europe and top global happiness scores. Why? Because taxes fund things people actually value: → Healthcare → Education → Safety nets → Trust in institutions People don’t just want low taxes. They want a life that feels secure, fair, and meaningful.
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lawrenceroman.eth
@lawrenceroman
Taxes are essential for high-functioning society. It’s no irony. Every time I meet someone who disagrees, I can’t help but walk away thinking they’re not the sharpest in the bunch. Billionaires are worst; let them try becoming a billionaire in a society that doesn’t collect taxes & has great infrastructure. The real issue is corruption & the misuse of tax revenue. But in the Nordic countries on your list, where education levels are high & public services work well, people don’t mind paying taxes. Not long ago, I had a friendly conversation at a bar with a Canadian woman who joked about how Americans hate taxes. I had to remind her not everyone in America thinks the same way. I’d like to blame the media for this mindset, but the truth is, a lot of people simply aren’t well-educated, not to mentioned civic classes are not longer thought, hence we find ourselves where we are now. Just look at some of the red states that rank lowest in education yet rely heavily on federal aid. cc: @moo @kaufman
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