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As an American that has recently moved to Germany, I do know that I pay significantly more income tax in Germany. I also know that a greater percentage of the population here is employed compared to the US, and that Germany also has a higher percentage of their GDP come from taxes. I was surprised to read your claims - do you have any good sources for them?

I do agree with you that in the case of US public services, money is not the real issue.

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http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2010/03/taxes-per-person.html

For another interesting bit (namely, what country has the most progressive tax system), see http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-nation-has-most-... and http://www.themoneyillusion.com/?p=4626 .

Short version - revenues aren't rates and both spending and gdp matter. (And, some assets aren't taxed - a huge fraction of Warren Buffet's fortune will never be taxed and none of his "I think rich people should pay more" proposals will change that. He's pushing taxes that other people will pay, often folks who he's trying to buy from.)

Yes. The Economist is also heavily advocating closing those `loopholes' instead of increasing the marginal rate. Today, only people with incompetent tax lawyers pay the highest marginal rates.

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