• BaldManGoomba@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Median mean 50% of the country make more or less. So 31k is still rough.

    You said the richer people in the tax bracket was struggling because taxes(at least how I took or understood what you said)

    I can’t argue your lived experience but this is also how it is in America. Everyone who wants a decent job has to be close to a major city or be related to the rich people in the small towns and things are expensive. I commuted 150 miles a day (241 km) just so I could afford rent with 4 other people in my house. I spent 4 hours on commuting so my days were 12 hours it was exhausting.

    Either way it isn’t taxes it is businesses paying poorly, bad production or manufacturing for cost of living necessities, and ownership class being ridiculous. Not sure what your politics are but taxes help the poor with health care, roads, and infrastructure. Also keeps the rich from controlling more.

      • BaldManGoomba@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Average salary is a broken metric always look for median. 31k that is median just plain fucked sure the tax doesn’t help but 31k isn’t a livable salary in the country by my metrics that being said. I am sure a 2 income house hold for a 3br is more accurate of a situation since globally single income households are just not realistic. Even if you made 31k with 0 tax I don’t see how that would be livable still not worth breaking tax system because idk what other welfare you all have but losing free health care would make your country worse off

          • BaldManGoomba@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            Why we have progressive rates. A flat tax will still make a 31k persons life more miserable in this country the lower tax ranges need to be adjusted. In America if you don’t make enough money we send you money. Almost like a ubi. 100k people won’t be hurt if more money they make is taxed.

            Paid health care is way worse. I already 1.4% for old people healthcare(I don’t get access to) and I pay around 4.5% weekly to health insurance that I can’t use until I spend $6,000 in healthcare services and still have to pay money to see doctors. In America so many people go without insurance or just die because they can’t get things taken care of.

            Most articles say Portugal healthcare is better or on par with America’s system for patient outcomes. But what the article don’t mention you have be able to afford to get into the system in America. I haven’t visited a doctor in 15 years.

            A guaranteed pension is super strong versus a retirement plan that is in the stock market because a crash could wipe out the whole fund.

            Lastly why isn’t the rich not paying more in salaries and why isn’t money more equitable In Portugal?

              • BaldManGoomba@lemmy.world
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                4 months ago

                It is the same in the usa for healthcare unless you can spend money. Sometimes people will save for a year so they can take a day or week off for surgery.

                Sounds like less of a tax problem and more of a things are to expensive problem. Or government needs to regulate more problem and you have corrupt politicians. All these companies are profitable right? Then they can pay more.