Is it true that us Americans actually end up paying the same amount in taxes as socialistic wefare Europeans?

I was reading this New York Times article about how the economic system works in the Netherlands, and their taxation rate (52%) is obviously far higher than ours (35%). But the article also says that income tax rate doesn't account for Social Security taxes, state taxes, higher real estate taxes, and health insurance taxes, which ends up driving our net tax rate up to 52% anyway. Is such an analysis true? And if it is, why do we pay just as much as the Europeans in taxes but get virtually none of the same services in return?

Public Comments

1. yes it is. my dad said he was paying 50 % in taxes at one point. we pay about 40-50%
2. Which Americans.............. The ones the Demmocrats call rich. or The ones who pay no income tax because the Democrats say the are middle or lower income.
3. The European countries pay way more in taxes.
4. I get a lot more government than I want. I hope the Europeans are happy. I used to actually live there. It is a crap hole outside the tourist havens and the rich haunts.
5. Im not sure, but if you take into effect that.... everything you just mentioned is a bankrupt non-working liberal "social" program that raises taxes and creates bigger government...youll get the point.
6. No. The socialist countries in Europe have a lower standard of living and pay much higher taxes. They get "free healthcare and free dental" however, they do pay more through taxes for it. In England, medical care is managed and rationed. That means if you are 65 years old and get cancer, you get no treatment. Treatments are saved for younger people that are working and contributing to the government coffers. Also, people in England get free dental care. Did you know that 68% of the English people have NEVER been to a dentist? Why, it's free? They can't get an appointment.
7. America also has amongst the highest corporation tax rates in the world. http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/03/us_companies_pay_the_highest_t.html In 2008, employer health insurance premiums in the US increased by 5% – two times the rate of inflation. The annual premium for an employer health plan covering a family of four averaged nearly $12,700. The annual premium for single coverage averaged over $4,700 http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-02-19-health-coverage_N.htm American taxes are used to fund it's vast military industrial complex (America accounts for Half the entire Worlds Military Spending), Americas growing prison population (a quarter of all the worlds prisoners are in America) and Government Programs such as NASA's Space Program. Whilst Europeans tend to spend more taxes on their welfare states and health care systems. @Bethany J Medical treatment in the UK is not rationed and of course you would receive treatment for cancer at 65. Private Health Insurance is more subject to rationing than state health care, with private insurance companies constantly examining small print in order to deny claims and treatments.
8. Americans don't count the fortune they spend on health care as a tax, as we get it as part of.
9. Look, if you want a strong military, bridges and roads, a CDC to keep you safe, and educational system to provide the next generation of thinkers, and so much more, you have to pay for it! The right wing liars on hate radio that convinced folks that this is free if you just cut taxes on the rich are taking you for a fool if you believe that. I lived in "high tax" Illinois and moved to "low tax" Texas. Guess what, my taxes went up! In spite of moving to a State with no income tax I paid more. How? Real estate taxes went up 400% and that was on houses with similar values. Nothing is free, except for the rich on hate radio. They get a pass if we are dumb enough to vote R.
10. Yes, personally I would favor less services and less taxes as government services are often less than effective. Taxing is an easy business. Any projector can contrive new impositions, any bungler can add to the old. Edmund Burke
11. does that include the money we pay for health care ?
12. european countries even the socialist ones (which doesn't mean communist) pay more
13. Other taxes in the United States, for example, the payroll tax system (FICA), a 12.4% Social Security tax on wages up to $106,800 (for 2009) and a 2.9% Medicare tax, amount to a 15.3% total tax that is split between employee and employer. So, the additional taxes for citizens would be, roughly, 7.5% higher, or 42%. Keep in mind that many European nations cover the costs of higher educational expenses and health care.....both not included in our own taxes, but paid out of our pockets.