News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on I wish GPT4 had never happened. Parent comment

Re:I wish GPT4 had never happened by pclmulqdq on Sunday April 09, 2023 @08:36PM (#35507882)
Yeah, you live in a high-tax state - counting that and payroll tax would make it to 33%. However, you can deduct a good fraction of that tax (actually all of it) from your federal taxes. Also, you included the cost of your healthcare in your calculation, so you are getting "welfare state" benefits for that cost. As to your taxes, those are paying for a welfare state for people who are less well off than you. I'm pretty sure you are in the 90th percentile on income, by the way, so you're not actually in the lower class, and arguably not even the middle class (although that level of income in a rich state like MA feels middle class).

All those other taxes exist in Germany too, by the way, and are much higher.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:I wish GPT4 had never happened by vc8f6vVV on Monday April 10, 2023 @08:11PM (#35519037)
MA is not a "high-tax state", it's in the middle by an overall tax burden (depending how you count), so it's another myth. Check this for example: https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-highest-lowest-tax-bur.... Also I'm not in the top 10% percentile, more like in the top 20% in MA. Give me your definition of the "middle class". Also I explained that for the "lower class" medical payments are even higher.

No, I'm not getting "welfare state" benefits, I'm getting a pretty crappy medical service for a price which is waaay higher than in Germany. And if I lose my job I will be paying 2K/month + copays and co-insurances, not mentioning deductibles, unlike in Germany. And God forbids you get into a hospital without insurance, your jaw will drop to the floor when you see the bill.

Have you ever been in the Boston subway? Compare it with almost any city in Europe, hell, even with Montreal. Tell me which welfare state has subways like Boston or NYC? Commuter rail like in Boston? NYC commuter rail is a bit better, but still is not even close to German railways.

And all of the above we get for taxes which are very similar to Germany. No, they are not much lower, it's something with your math. And in absolute value we pay waaay more than in Germany given higher salaries.

[ Parent | on HN ]