Re: I am willing to argue public education has ruined this country...
LastBattle, the article you cite is full of bias and misinformation. Here are the facts.
Here is the tax-rate showing clearly that the U.S has the lowest tax-rate.
Here is GDP/Capita growth showing little relationship between tax-rate and GDP growth.
Now if Sweden was in a big mess, would it not have high unemployment and be on the brink of collapse just like Greece? Especially considering that you argue that Sweden has been in a mess for such a long time.
Well the unemployment numbers show that Sweden, and other Scandinavian countries unemployment below the European average. Unfortunately there was no U.S overlay.
Protip: Make sure the articles you read actually reflect what is happening in the world.
Here is the tax-rate showing clearly that the U.S has the lowest tax-rate.
Here is GDP/Capita growth showing little relationship between tax-rate and GDP growth.
Now if Sweden was in a big mess, would it not have high unemployment and be on the brink of collapse just like Greece? Especially considering that you argue that Sweden has been in a mess for such a long time.
Well the unemployment numbers show that Sweden, and other Scandinavian countries unemployment below the European average. Unfortunately there was no U.S overlay.
Protip: Make sure the articles you read actually reflect what is happening in the world.
Again you feel the need to post irrelevant graphs. Sigh. Allow me:
-That first graph is indicating revenue, not tax rates, which are much different (how income tax brackets work, for example, modifies things without changing the actual rates)
-Come to think of it, did you even read the article? Your second graph is utterly unrelated to the article's main points.
-Nope. You didn't read the article and are instead shooting off wild guesses as to its contents and attacking strawmen. Damn shame, too, since you will never stop talking bull about Sweden if you refuse to bother reading what you are critiquing.
Sweden has low official unemployment for the same reason as Japan: government subsidized window sitters who are paid to make unemployment statistics look prettier. In Sweden, this is augmented by many workers getting hired and then spending most of their "career" on sick leave. I don't think you would classify Japan as being a "stellar example to follow" economically, either.