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Comment by arcticbull | Hacker News Reader

Let's not forget, the top marginal tax rate for someone living in the State of California is 39.6% federal + 13.3% California + 0.9% health surtax = 53.8%.

The top tax rate in Sweden is 57.10%.

For 4% more tax money, they get socialized education, healthcare, public transit, childcare, public parks and a litany of other services.

This comparison excludes payroll taxes / medicare, social security and sales taxes since I believe the Swedish numbers exclude those too.

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Where do the top rates kick in? In the US, the top federal bracket is $418,000 for an individual.

In Sweden the top bracket kicks in $88,000 USD.

That's a big difference.

The comparison is flawed because your salary in CA will be much greater.

But so will your rent or housing prices.

Public transit is not socialized in Sweden. In fact it is quite expensive.

Why would you want to "pay" for any of that unconditionally and have your income delegated by someone else when the free market offers a superior solution?

Well, thats because it doesn't if you can't afford it and many people can't. Further, we all live in a community of other people and helping them will improve your life too. You still have to walk by the sick, poor and homeless on your way to work. I know I still ride the subway to work.

You wouldn't necessarily, but that's a false choice because taxes in the US are not 0%.

Yea, that comment almost felt like a joke. 4% difference (53.8% in cali!? holy cow) and s/he's complaining about people deciding where that 4% goes?

I think you may have just nailed the fundamental difference between Swedes and Americans. The majority of Swedes are fine with having their income delegated by "someone else" if it means they'll both live a happy, healthy life.

US Healthcare cost: 17% of GDP Sweden healthcare cost: 10% of GDP

Which is superior?

The U.S. health care system is much superior. When I was in Sweden, I asked my vet if she would take me on as a patient because vet care is better than people care. But at least the funerals are free.

More hospital beds, lower infant mortality, higher life expectancy, lower chance of dying before 60, higher quality of healthcare overall.

http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/Sweden/Unit...

I can't see a single scientific measure supporting the statement that the US has a better health system than Sweden

You need to look farther than the sources you are quoting then. I would suggest talking to people who have lived in both countries.

Cost is not the only comparison. The US scores last in this study of eleven countries. Sweden third. Having received healthcare in the US, the U.K. and Sweden, I personally prefer Sweden. But as the US is a very large place it is hard to generalise.

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/20...

The UK spends a tiny amount on health care - $1400 a year less per head than comparative european countries like Germany, France, Belgium etc, and $5,400 a year less per head than the USA. Yet it has better healthcare than the USA.

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