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Middle East and Other Musings
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Videos and Democrat Political Hypocrisy. Increasing Number of Democrats Prefer Socialism Than Capitalism.
</ifr<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbWea3QfDMgLfhmS9-idAdZ5WgcmuZOMjTXT7FYY9ofvScP5TD_vvwt-AY5Hv2uduWttPw9BI3M1TuS4PUoMHDchyEckQeLrqhVb8uYHAIxFi_r5F_bUqiaNOSHBvO0nH5xxPSim4DAE5/s1600/Untitled+attachment+00005.mp4" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbWea3QfDMgLfhmS9-idAdZ5WgcmuZOMjTXT7FYY9ofvScP5TD_vvwt-AY5Hv2uduWttPw9BI3M1TuS4PUoMHDchyEckQeLrqhVb8uYHAIxFi_r5F_bUqiaNOSHBvO0nH5xxPSim4DAE5/s320/Untitled+attachment+00005.mp4" width="320" /></a>ame> The above two videos show you how Democrats are playing immigration politics in the most hypocritical manner.<br /> <br /> This from a long time dear friend and fellow memo reader: "<span style="background-color: white; color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">How do you explain: the more Muslim terrorism takes place the more Muslims getting voted into political positions and the more Muslims are let in the USA. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">This Country is going step by step European style. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We are losing our Country every day, and eventually there could  be another civil war."</span><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />My response: "Yes, and that always was Obama's goal."</span></div> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br /> If you stay quiet perhaps it will go away? (See 1 below.)<br /> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br /> Taking a comparative look at America with Socialistic Countries. (See 2 below.)<br /> <br /> Growing number of Democrats prefer Socialism to Capitalism.<br /> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br /> Today's market decline is in keeping with what I wrote a few days ago.<br /> <br /> The earnings period is now mostly over and the market will focus on how the Trade battle goes, how The Fed reacts to that and the economy, other developments regarding diplomatic initiatives with N Korea, Iran and now Turkey.<br /> <br /> Earnings have peaked but will continue to make good comparisons. China's economy and debt structure is not healthy and that puts downward pressure on various raw materials, ie. gold, copper, energy etc.<br /> <br /> As the market retreats, I would expect only a reaction not a bear market. Should the Democrats capture The House then all market bets might fly out the window.  What Trump bought with his tax plan and other efforts to reverse policies that have proven injurious is time.  As we move forward, I would expect Trump will accomplish some of his tariff/trade goals, most specifically with Europe first. China will take longer.<br /> <br /> I do not believe there will be much progress with respect to N Korea unless Trump announces specific time parameters.Ultimately, Kim has, at least,  two decisions: will he continue being a pawn of China because they derive  benefits from N Korea creating issues for America or will a huge economic carrot bring Kim to the realization his bread is better buttered by allowing his people to progress in the hope of securing his own safety and re-introduction into the world's community of nations as an "enlightened leader."<br /> <br /> As for Turkey, Erdogan is making every effort to cozy up to Russia but will eventually regret these efforts and  they might even cause a coup attempt by his military.  Certainly, we will not be supplying Turkey with the F 35's they seek until NATO membership issues are resolved.<br /> <br /> When it comes to Iran, I believe continued sanctions will weaken the Ayatollah and what his reaction will be is anyone's guess.<br /> <br /> Trump is unlikely to go to war over N Korea and/or Iran and that reduces his leverage unless these nations leave him no alternative which I do not think they will.<br /> <br /> If Turkey makes a move against our forces stationed in our airbase on Turkey's soil matters could turn nasty.<br /> <br /> More clouds than sunshine for the next few months.<br /> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br /> Maxine Waters reached 70 today and her birthday wish is Trump be gone!<br /> <br /> It is possible Democrats will be able to capture The House without a strategy, urging voters to embrace Socialism so everything is free and all because you have to hate Trump.  Stranger things have happened which we subsequently regretted.<br /> <br /> Trump is putting his imprimatur on his favored candidates and they are getting nominated but am not sure they will have sufficient appeal at election time to capture the uncommitted middle. Is Trump so caught up in his selection of candidate favorites he is losing sight of the ultimate goal, ie. win with appealing candidates? <br /> <br /> Time will tell.<br /> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br /> Dick<br /> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br /> 1)<br /> <h1 class="yiv0292558747aolmail_title" style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;"> DNC Stays Quiet on Domestic Abuse Allegations Against Vice Chair Keith Ellison</h1> <h2 class="yiv0292558747aolmail_subhead" style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;"> (Updated) DNC says it's reviewing 'disturbing' accusation</h2> <div class="yiv0292558747aolmail_metadata yiv0292558747aolmail_singleline" style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"> By <a class="yiv0292558747aolmail_byline" href="https://freebeacon.com/author/rutz/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #416ed2; display: inline; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;" target="_blank" title="View all posts by David Rutz">David Rutz</a></div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px;">The Democratic National Committee has stayed silent so far on an ex-girlfriend's allegations of abuse against DNC vice chairman Rep. Keith Ellison (D., Minn.).</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span> <br /> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> Ellison's former girlfriend Karan Monahan has accused him of emotional and physical abuse during their relationship, and her son <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Aslimsed/posts/2319161644777680" rel="nofollow" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%;" target="_blank">wrote on Facebook </a>he saw a video of Ellison dragging her off the bed and cursing at her. Ellison, a progressive favorite running for Minnesota Attorney General, <a href="https://freebeacon.com/politics/ellison-denies-abuse-allegations-never-behaved-way/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%;" target="_blank">said</a> there is no such video and denied any allegations of misconduct.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> The DNC did not respond to the <em style="max-width: 100%;">Washington Free Beacon</em>‘s request for a response to the allegations on Tuesday, and it also did not respond to similar requests by the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/us/politics/keith-ellison-abuse-karen-monahan.html" rel="nofollow" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%;" target="_blank"><em style="max-width: 100%;">New York Times</em></a>, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ellison-denies-abuse-allegations-ahead-of-minnesota-primary-1534189404" rel="nofollow" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%;" target="_blank"><em style="max-width: 100%;">Wall Street Journal</em></a>, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/13/politics/keith-ellison-denies-allegations/index.html" rel="nofollow" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%;" target="_blank">CNN</a>, and <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2018/08/14/dnc-keith-ellison-domestic-abuse/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%;" target="_blank"><em style="max-width: 100%;">The Daily Caller</em></a>.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> The 44-year-old Monahan, who serves as an organizer with the progressive Sierra Club, told the <em style="max-width: 100%;">New York Times </em>Ellison's abuse was "insidious." She said she won't share the "embarrassing" video—she also says she misplaced the thumb drive that has it—but three friends corroborated her account of the bed incident to them after she moved out of Ellison's apartment, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/13/politics/keith-ellison-denies-allegations/index.html" rel="nofollow" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%;" target="_blank">CNN reported</a>.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> "It is the most difficult form of abuse to articulate," she wrote in an email. "It is a slow insidious form of abuse. You don’t realize it is happening until it’s too late."</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> While the DNC has not commented so far on the allegation against Ellison, DNC chair Tom Perez tweeted positively about the resignations of Sen. Al Franken (D., Minn.) and Florida Democratic Party chair Stephen Bittel last year over various accusations of misconduct toward women.</div> <div class="yiv0292558747aolmail_tweet-wrapper" style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <blockquote class="yiv0292558747aolmail_simple-tweet" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 3px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; max-width: 100%; padding-left: 16px;"> <div style="max-width: 100%;"> Sen. Al Franken should step down. Everyone must share the responsibility of building a culture of trust and respect for women in every industry and workplace, and that includes our party.</div> — Tom Perez (@TomPerez)<span style="max-width: 100%;"> <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPerez/status/938456573046874113" rel="nofollow" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%;" target="_blank">1:14 PM - Dec 6, 2017</a></span></blockquote> </div> <div class="yiv0292558747aolmail_tweet-wrapper" style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <blockquote class="yiv0292558747aolmail_simple-tweet" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 3px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; max-width: 100%; padding-left: 16px;"> <div style="max-width: 100%;"> There's no excuse for this — regardless of party or politics, we have to build a culture where men respect women. No woman should ever be harassed in the work place or anywhere else.</div> — Tom Perez (@TomPerez)<span style="max-width: 100%;"> <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPerez/status/931604041905393673" rel="nofollow" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%;" target="_blank">3:24 PM - Nov 17, 2017</a></span></blockquote> </div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> Another woman, Amy Alexander, accused Ellison in 2006 of emotional abuse during an affair they had and said he once grabbed and pushed her while arguing, <a href="https://www.vox.com/2018/8/13/17684222/keith-ellison-karen-monahan-minnesota-attorney-general-race" rel="nofollow" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%;" target="_blank"><em style="max-width: 100%;">Vox</em> reports</a>. Ellison said they never even had a relationship.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> Ellison is the first Muslim elected to Congress and is in the midst of his sixth term. He decided to forgo seeking a seventh term in his bid for Minnesota attorney general. He has already been dogged by controversy this year, dealing with his <a href="https://freebeacon.com/politics/ellison-says-his-democratic-colleagues-never-asked-him-about-farrakhan-connection-no-one-cares/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%;" target="_blank">prior entanglements</a> with the Nation of Islam and its avowedly bigoted leader <a href="https://freebeacon.com/politics/washington-post-gives-keith-ellison-four-pinocchios-claims-no-relationship-farrakhan/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%;" target="_blank">Louis Farrakhan</a>.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> 2)<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">These days, we are hearing a lot more about how socialistic democracy countries like Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have a higher quality of life with more content and productive societies than the US - while at the same time our own country continues to be increasingly criticized and disparaged more than it is praised - both internally and externally.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">To help put some perspective on the worthiness and veracity of these claims, I thought you might find some comparisons interesting and useful.  Except where noted by the author, all sources are from Wikipedia, which also cites its own sub-sources in support.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Country Size</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">The US is about 228 times bigger than Denmark, 30 times bigger than Norway, and 22 times bigger than Sweden.  Sweden for example is only about the size of one of our states - California - and of, course, Norway and Denmark are even smaller.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Country Population</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">The US has about 66 times more people than Norway, 55 times more than Denmark, and 33 times more than Sweden.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">These significant differences in country size and population, as well as the greater demographic diversity in the US, fundamentally require that a much higher degree of difficulty and complexity is needed to manage our larger US society and achieve high standards of quality of life across the board.  Country size and population differences alone automatically disadvantage the US when making claims that Scandinavian countries are better places to live.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">However, even allowing for that higher degree of difficulty and disadvantage, when you look at some key societal indicators, such as those below, I believe you find that these claims have even less merit than their popular perceptions.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">GDP Per Capita (Society Productivity Measure)</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Despite its much larger size and population, the US maintains a GDP Per Capita of about $60,000, while Norway is about $75,000, Denmark is about $56,000, and Sweden is about $53,000.  A remarkable achievement, considering our size, and in the aggregate, the US has the largest GDP in the world at 19 trillion, with China next at 12 trillion, and then Japan at 5 trillion.  Sweden’s GDP is only 538B, Norway is only 396B, and Denmark is only 324B.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">United Nations HDI (Human Development Index)</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Measures life expectancy, education level, and productivity, among other factors.  Often criticized, but is at least a general indicator of relative societal strength.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">The US Index is .920, which is considered Very High.  Norway is .949, Denmark is .925, and Sweden is .913.  Bottom line is that there is NO discernible difference in this world-wide quality of life measure between the US and the Scandinavian countries.  And this is from a UN study, no less.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">World Happiness Report (United Nations 2018)</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Norway 7.6 #2, Denmark 7.6 #5, Sweden 7.3 #9, US 6.9 #18.  Again, not a meaningful difference, and quite remarkable considering the vast size of the US over which this ranking has to be maintained - and also remarkable considering it is a UN study.  </span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Suicide Rates by Country (Per 100,000 2015)</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Sweden 15.4, US 14.3, Denmark 12.3, N</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">orway 10.9.  US is comparable, despite all the noise about lax gun laws.  You might be interested to know that the “Happiest Country in the World” Finland has a suicide rate of 16.3.  You might also be interested to know that Norway just announced that it will test giving free heroin to drug addicts.  </span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Health Care Quality by Country (Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes OECD) Colorectal Cancer - US 65%, Sweden 64%, Norway 63%, Denmark 55%.  Female Cancers - US 89%, Sweden 87%, Norway 86%, Denmark 82%.  Cervical Cancer - Norway 71%, Sweden 67%, Denmark</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"> </span><a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=66%25,+US+62&entry=gmail&source=g" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc;">66%, US 62</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">%.  Heart Attack Mortality  - Denmark 2.9, Norway 4.5, Sweden 4.5, US 5.5.  Hemorrhagic Stroke - Norway 15.3, Sweden 15.8, Denmark 17.9, US 22.3.  Ischemic Stroke - Denmark 3.5, US 4.3, Norway 5.3, Sweden 6.4.  </span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Health Care Index by Country (Numbeo 2018)  </span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Denmark 79.9, Norway 75.0, Sweden 69.0, US 68.9.  While the US does not compare quite as favorably on health care, overall it is respectable given the very large population and geography over which these complex services must be delivered.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Best Countries for Education (US News and World Report (</span><a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=2018)+US+%232&entry=gmail&source=g" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc;">2018)</a></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=2018)+US+%232&entry=gmail&source=g" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc;">US #2</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">, Sweden #9, Denmark #10, Norway #14.  You can look it up.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">PISA Education Performance Results OECD Counties (2015)</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Science - Denmark 502, Norway 498, US 496, Sweden 493</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Reading - Norway 513, Sweden 500, Denmark 500, US 497</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Math - Denmark 511, Norway 502, Sweden 494, US 470</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">US is comparable to Scandinavia in Science and Reading, and is below in Math.  Likely due to our continuing increased emphasis in education on “soft” subjects, self-esteem, qualitative performance measures, and relativism vs. absolutism (the “participation trophy” and “no valedictorian” syndromes).  </span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Income Inequality (World Bank GINI 2014).</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Norway 26.8, Sweden 27.2, Denmark 28.5, US 41.0.  Some other benchmarks: UK 34.1, Australia 34.7, Mexico 48.2.  The US does have greater income inequality than Scandinavia, which can lead to some discontent and negative perceptions about quality of life disparities, but important factors which contribute to that inequality are a much larger US population base over which to spread total income production, and an economic system which is based on capitalism vs. socialism.  </span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Average Income by Country (World Data Info 2015).  </span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Norway $76,000. US $58,000. Denmark $55,000.  Sweden $53,000.  Despite the above differences in income inequality, the average income for all these countries is comparable.  In Scandinavia, a greater percentage of people make closer to the average wage than in the US, but as shown below, a greater percentage of them also pay more and higher taxes on their incomes - from top to bottom.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">National Public Debt as a % of GDP</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">US National Public Debt % GDP is about 77%, while Sweden is about 39%, Norway 37%, and Denmark about 35%.  Clearly, these countries appear to have been more fiscally responsible at the national level in delivering services to its citizens.  Perhaps the information below will help explain why.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">How Scandinavian Countries Pay for Government Spending (Tax Foundation 2014)</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Individual Income and Payroll Tax Revenues as a % of GDP</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Denmark 26%, Sweden 22%, and Norway 20% vs. just 15% in the US.  If 23% is the average in these countries, and if the US income and payroll tax revenues went to that level, then our annual individual income and payroll taxes would go up about 1.5 trillion, or a little more than 50% - a very large and very burdensome increase on all those who pay taxes.  And that’s not all.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Total Tax Revenues as a % of GDP (Tax Policy Center 2014)</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Denmark 47%, Sweden 43%, Norway 38%, and US 26%.  Scandinavian country taxes in total are much higher than the US to pay for all their social benefits and so-called higher quality of life.  And that’s not all.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Top Tax Rates (Tax Foundation)</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Denmark’s top rate of 60% kicks in at just 1.2 times the average income.  Sweden’s top rate of 57% kicks in at just 1.5 times the average income.  And Norway’s top rate of 39% kicks in at just 1.6 times the average income.  The US top rate of 37% kicks in at about 8.5 times the average income.  A much greater % of people in Scandinavia are paying taxes and at a much higher amount than in the US.  And that’s not all.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Value Added Taxes (VAT) vs. Sales Tax Revenues as a % of GDP (Tax Foundation)</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Denmark’s VAT revenue is about 10% of GDP, Sweden is about 9%, and Norway is about 8%.  US Sales Tax revenue is about 2% of GDP.  And that’s not all.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Business and Capital Taxes (Tax Foundation)</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">We hear a lot about how US corporations do not pay much tax, or enough tax, so is that accurate?  In some individual cases, that may be true, but across the board, it is not true.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Corporate Income Tax Revenues as a % of GDP (Tax Foundation)</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Denmark 3%, Sweden 2.6%, and Norway 8.5% vs. the US at 2.5%.  Norway is the anomaly because Norway’s economy is heavily dependent on oil,  and it charges companies an income tax rate of 66% to extract it.  Excluding that anomaly, US corporate tax revenues are generally comparable, and our corporations produce comparable GDP per capita output across a much larger base.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Effective Corporate Tax Rates Paid (2014 World Bank Study)</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">US28%, Norway 23%, Denmark 18%, and Sweden 13%.  US corporations rank in the top 10% of up to 45 countries in four different studies on effective corporate tax rates actually paid.  And our rate is higher than all of these model Scandinavian countries.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">There are, of course, other studies and analyses which might show different complexions on this subject, and no doubt that individual examples, which can be cited by anyone under any circumstance, would support claims that Scandinavian counties compared more favorably to the US in certain specific quality of life areas.  However, in the main, and across the board, it is pretty clear that there really is not any meaningful disparity between quality of life in the United States vs. the Scandinavian counties, and what is VERY clear is that individual citizens in the US pay a LOT less out of their own pockets to enjoy that comparably high quality of life.  So, when making such claims about life being better in socialistic democracies, one has to consider not just the benefits (and whether they really are better or not) but also the costs involved to achieve and obtain those benefits.  </span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">One area in which I do think these claims have merit is in the area of National Debt.  It would appear that to achieve our societal benefits and quality of life, the US has chosen to go much further into debt than the Scandinavian countries.  That means we have mortgaged our futures and have forced payment of the benefits we enjoy today on to the shoulders of future generations; whereas, the Scandinavian countries have chosen to tax citizens today at higher rates for the benefits they enjoy today.  In my book, that not only is more honorable and more ethical, it is more fiscally responsible, and it likely results in a much stronger linkage with greater accountability between what is paid for and what is received.  Perhaps the US should consider a better balance, and could start by broadening the tax base like the Scandinavian countries have done, so that more US citizens would have to take greater responsibility for, and have to make more current investment in, the benefits they want to receive and expect to be provided.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Even with that mild critique, the overwhelming facts are that we live in a remarkable country, and we have incredible opportunities, freedoms, security, and prosperity.  And while we do have societal problems and weaknesses which need to be addressed, our society would be a lot healthier, more civil, more unified, and more productive if we ALL would focus a lot more on our blessings and our strengths, which significantly outweigh those weaknesses, knowing with certainty that Americans have always and will always strive to be better on our journey as a nation.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">Our history proves that belief in no uncertain terms, and it is time we stopped criticizing and disparaging our history and our country, and begin to realize that we all stand on the big and broad shoulders of the millions who came before us and sacrificed so much for so long to give us the many blessings we enjoy today.  The so-called “privilege” we are told enjoy today is a myth.  It is the cumulative result of many, many generations (including today’s) of great sacrifice by hard-working, selfless, cici-minded, law-abiding, future-oriented Americans whose contributions to our way of life  have far outstripped their shortcomings and weaknesses.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0433ff;">We can start by being more objective about the comparisons to other countries, and by shifting our focus on America from the negative to the positive in appreciation of all the blessings we enjoy.  I hope this summary helps us do a better job of that.  If you agree, please pass it or parts of it along to others whom you feel might also be helped by it.</span></div> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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