Guess Why Europe Wants America To Raise Its Taxes?

Because higher taxes in America makes Europe’s higher taxes look more competitive in the world market. That’s why Finland’s Prime Minister is totally in favor of higher American taxes.

We have to initiate discussions at the European Union level about how to prepare for the post-crisis period. Getting public finances in order is a must if we are to grow, create employment and provide the welfare services that we in Europe value so much. … This will require tight control and, in many countries, painful cuts. However, it would be unrealistic to assume that all the balancing could be done on the spending side alone. … The overall tax rate will have to rise as well over the longer term. In some areas that can be done without much consultation between the countries. … However, raising such taxes can have detrimental effects on economic activity. This is especially so when a country acts on its own: capital and people can respond by migrating to jurisdictions with lower rates. … Parallel measures would help all of Europe: tax competition risk would be reduced and the public finances of individual countries would improve. Such co-ordinated tax changes could set also an important global example. In particular, it might encourage the US – with lower tax levels in most areas – to do what has to be done to address its spiralling budget deficit.

As James Pethokoukis says, “Don’t raise the bridge, lower the river!”
I think this illustrates the difference between good competition and bad competition. Say you own a business. You’re competing with another business down the street. Good competition is when you beat that business by offering superior quality, service and prices. Bad competition is when you hire someone to burn the other business down.
Basically, Europe wants America to burn. Or, departing from that metaphor, they want us raise our taxes so they don’t have to lower theirs.
And, sadly, far too many people here in America seem just fine with that.

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  • http://Array Bat One

    Av,

    What you say is true… at least to some degree. But, as E4Bannan suggests, the comparison is superficial. Europe, individually by country or en mass, has never pulled its own weight financially as far defense is concerned. Fact is, the alies had to be dragged kicking and screaming in their own mud puddle when Yugoslavia disintegrated. And a resurgent Russia should certainly give prudent Europeans, those not affiliated with Brussels, considerable pause.

    Then too, there’s those pesky demographics… the ones that have attracted a surge of “guest workers” from muslim North Africa because there aren’t enough productive Europeans to pay the freight for their socialist Valhalla.

  • http://www.indymedia.org/en/index.shtml Angry Vertebrate

    Bat One, Europe has had stronger growth than the US since WWII. Euro-socialism is actually pretty effective. Wages are higher, health care is cheaper and better, social mobility is greater.

    Maybe they know what they’re talking about?

  • Jerry In Detroit

    Let’s see?

    Wages are higher. Yep. Good l;uck finding one of theose high paying jobs.

    Health care is cheaper and better? Good luck getting health care when you need it and you must be reading the government propaganda telling us how wonderful our government health care is. My friends & relatives tell me it sucks.

    Social mobility? Look who’s running the country and where they started. Social mobility was much better here until this bunch got on top and has made every effort to stay there at our expense. You’ll find much the same on the other side of the Atlantic.

  • Bat One

    So, the European socialists, who’ve been there – done that, with egalitarian collectivism, and suffered the financial consequences, apparently know more about economic competition in the marketplace than the President of the US.

    Okay… I like irony.

  • e4bannan

    Bring every American serviceman home from Europe so the Europeans will be forced to enact draconian tax hikes to provide for their own defense. Then slash taxes here and watch the capital migration begin.

  • http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/entry/homosexuality_is_wrong_-_a_compendium move_zig

    Yes, then reform our immigration laws to make it no so discriminatory against those trying to get in through the front door.

    We could stand an influx of Europeans who have had it up to here with Euro-socialism, Rampant Islamization and the downward moral and economic spiral that Europe is undergoing with Socialists with a deathgrip on the wheel of state.

    There is no better American than one who has lived under oppression and recognizes the lies of socialism and the Good afforded here in America.

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