European voters are rejecting austerity

[driewerf]

Personally, I'm not confident, social democracy sold its soul long ago.

In 1914,


when it massively voted the war credits necessary to start World War 1. The story goes that when Lenin saw the German socialist newspaper that announced the voting of the war credits, he thought it was a forgery.

[driewerf]

Also, evading taxes in Greece is like a national pastime.

For many, they don't need to. Businesses get massive tax breaks anyway.

Bingo, if it's anything like how it is the US, only 43% pay federal income tax, because they don't make enough to quilify, plus if you have kids aged 0-18, you get a tax break. But according to the rightwing, we are all deadbeats  , despite that these people pay a good chuck with state, sales, and payroll taxes. This is why I feel maybe we should adopt a dual tax system (1/2 income, 1/2 VAT tax) like a good chuck of Europe does, just to shut rightwingers up, but even that won't shut them up, look how they still bitch about "welfare" even though it's been turned into more or less a jobs program since 1996.

I'm absolutely opposed to VAT's. They tax the poors and people with small incomes much harder - and are thus antisocial.

[gyeonghwa]

I wouldn't get too excited. Most of Europe has had right wing governments for a few years now. They're about due for a swing back to the left.  Give it a few more years and it'll come full circle again.

Ay, in fact I think Hungary is like that right now.

Didn't Hungary recently become a far-right theocracy?  Like, just a couple months ago?

From what I hear, yes.

EDIT: Man, I'm just failing at posting today.

[largeham]

In 1914,


when it massively voted the war credits necessary to start World War 1. The story goes that when Lenin saw the German socialist newspaper that announced the voting of the war credits, he thought it was a forgery.

Yep, though in Australia it was before that with the Labour Party's support for White Australia.

[nickiknack]

Also, evading taxes in Greece is like a national pastime.

For many, they don't need to. Businesses get massive tax breaks anyway.

Bingo, if it's anything like how it is the US, only 43% pay federal income tax, because they don't make enough to quilify, plus if you have kids aged 0-18, you get a tax break. But according to the rightwing, we are all deadbeats  , despite that these people pay a good chuck with state, sales, and payroll taxes. This is why I feel maybe we should adopt a dual tax system (1/2 income, 1/2 VAT tax) like a good chuck of Europe does, just to shut rightwingers up, but even that won't shut them up, look how they still bitch about "welfare" even though it's been turned into more or less a jobs program since 1996.

I'm absolutely opposed to VAT's. They tax the poors and people with small incomes much harder - and are thus antisocial.

I oppose it too in theory, it's just I'm so fucking sick hearing rightwingers in this country bitch and moan about the 43% who don't pay income tax as not contributing to society. The only good thing is that capital gains is taxed as income in the parts of Europe that have the dual tax system.

[Lt. Fred]

In 1914,


when it massively voted the war credits necessary to start World War 1. The story goes that when Lenin saw the German socialist newspaper that announced the voting of the war credits, he thought it was a forgery.

Yep, though in Australia it was before that with the Labour Party's support for White Australia.

Well, the perception was that immigration lowers wages, which is right. Though, of course, black people are bad.