Hectic one Trowalts
Yep, I felt old the day I started paying Tax, medical Aid, insurance, car premiums, disability cover and retirement. After all that AND paying tax, I have F'all left at the end of the month.
What irritates me about our tax system is this:
In scandanavian countries you pay around 36-45% tax. However you get free medical, free school, free varsity, no crime, complete social service delivery.
Here you pay tax over and over.
Your tax goes towards schooling, but you pay school fees.
Your tax goes towards public health, but you pay for a medical aid or you're screwed.
Your tax goes towards tertiary grants, but you pay through your arse for varsity.
Your tax goes towards service delivery, but your garbage piles up and your power is tripped and your streets are filthy and the workers still ask you for xmas box.
Your tax goes towards public protection, but you pay insurance on your car and house and hire an alarm response company due to the police's inefficiency.
So, should I be glad I don't pay 45% tax? Not really, I'd rather pay Scandanavian tax rates, where I'm sure the money is being used correctly and I benefit directly from it without having to cover myself.
This isn't bullshit that I made up. I've been to Denmark and Sweden more than once and I lived in Germany for a year. I've seen it work.