OT for dave2--German economy

Ed in Northern VA · Sep 20, 2011

dave2, there"s an article in today"s Wash Post about the German economy. Apparently the average German worker pays about 41% taxes and their version of social security (2nd highest in Europe). Is there much of an underground economy? Does alot of business go on an unreported cash basis? Seems like there"s an big incentive to cut out the tax man.
Washington Post article

Anonymous-0 · Sep 20, 2011

costs them more than they'd ever pay in taxes if they are caught working under the table (or paying someone under the table)..

Anonymous-0 · Sep 20, 2011

But rarely do you hear they get caught !!!!

Anonymous-0 · Sep 20, 2011

(quoted from post at 05:59:06 09/20/11) But rarely do you hear they get caught !!!!

You may not hear it over there, but they sure do...... Them taxes among other things pay for a lot of cops of all different varieties (customs, etc).

Just had a thing on TV yesterday evening about how they were catching folks. Unbelievable.... Said that the usual tipoffs were work/safety practices.... If they see something suspicious at a worksite, they'll surround it with plain clothes folks, then someone legit will go to the boss and ask how many folks on site (usually already know) and ask for paperwork to match. The plain clothes folks scoop up the runners as theytry to leave.....

Traditional Farmer · Sep 20, 2011

Great business climate you fellas have there.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 20, 2011

(quoted from post at 06:17:26 09/20/11) Great business climate you fellas have there.

I don't have to deal with it myself but the wife is German and has to provide paperwork for herself and all workers when the customs folks check her company randomly....

Several years ago, there was some American guys working for the military but were living with wives/girlfriends (with their children) that were unemployed and/or drawing some kind of social help and not paying taxes. They blocked the entrance/exit gates on both Kasserns in the community and swooped in. Got a couple crooks but most everyone was legit..... Caused a bunch of friction and almost led to a shootout with gate gaurds that wasn't informed of what was going to happen. I can't even let a local national drive one of my cars unless I am in it with them and unable to drive myself.

oldtanker · Sep 20, 2011

When I was on my 2nd tour of Germany a local bar and a GI got caught on the tax thing. He was a supply Sgt and was running a tab at the German bar. He paid part of his tab by giving the bar owner some floor tile that the Army was going to throw away. Someone noticed (had to be some kinda of inspector) the new flooring in the kitchen area and ask to see the paper work on it. The bar owner had to pay some pretty heavy fines and the they raise enough heck with the US Army that the Sgt was reduced in rank and kicked out.

To give you guys an idea when I did my 3 tours in Germany every US installation had a tax office. If you were giving a German national a gift over a certain dollar amount or booze/tobacco products you or the receiver were supposed to go there and pay the tax on the item. Failure to do that could result in the "native" being in trouble with the German government and could result in black marketing charges against the service member. That included "gifts" to a church past throwing money in the collection plate.

Rick

supergrumpy · Sep 20, 2011

spent 2 years in Berlin back in the 70's

first thing they told us was to be polite to the police and they will be polite, otherwise the police aren't at all polite

from what I hear, there is friction with the Osters and that surtax on the west to pay for them

eastexan · Sep 20, 2011

(quoted from post at 09:17:26 09/20/11) Great business climate you fellas have there.

Must be working, though.
I think the Germany economy is better than most.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 20, 2011

For that 41% they get universal healthcare and free college educations and they get about 6 weeks of mandatory "holiday" per year.

We are brainswashed by the rich corporate elite our system is the very best. Our system has some serious flaws. We did have a good system as one time.
Oh BTW Germany has the lowest unemployment in the developed world.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 20, 2011

Germany has one of the strongest economies and lowest unemployment in the developed world....

Contu-inue to be the useful idiot for the corporate elite...

Top 2% in the uS in 1974 owned 26% of the nations wealth and today it is 84%...something wrong is going on in the US

oldtanker · Sep 20, 2011

(quoted from post at 09:51:34 09/20/11) For that 41% they get universal healthcare and free college educations and they get about 6 weeks of mandatory "holiday" per year.

We are brainswashed by the rich corporate elite our system is the very best. Our system has some serious flaws. We did have a good system as one time.
Oh BTW Germany has the lowest unemployment in the developed world.

That all sounds good until you come to find out that the 41% is taxes for EVERYONE not just the rich. I was reading a report that stated with current spending if the US enacted universal health care everyone who has a job would wind up paying about 50% of their gross income in taxes. Somehow in a country that was formed because of taxation without representation I don't think people would go for it. Plus after serving 3 tours over there and knowing many German Nationals the health care system isn't as good as some AMERICANS would have you believe and in fact many Germans carry additional insurance so that they recieve better care.

Rick

oldtanker · Sep 20, 2011

(quoted from post at 09:55:35 09/20/11) Germany has one of the strongest economies and lowest unemployment in the developed world....

Contu-inue to be the useful idiot for the corporate elite...

Top 2% in the uS in 1974 owned 26% of the nations wealth and today it is 84%...something wrong is going on in the US

HMMMM where did you get those figures? Guess what that has been going on sense man started to trade and put value on things. And as long as poorer people are willing to sell what they have so that they can buy toys or a bigger house I can't place the blame on rich people.

This was in the news today!

The National Taxpayers Union also found that in 2008 the top 1 percent of American taxpayers paid 38 percent of collections for personal federal income tax while they represented 20 percent of all income.

Rick

Anonymous-0 · Sep 20, 2011

(quoted from post at 11:39:37 09/20/11)

(quoted from post at 09:51:34 09/20/11) For that 41% they get universal healthcare and free college educations and they get about 6 weeks of mandatory "holiday" per year.

We are brainswashed by the rich corporate elite our system is the very best. Our system has some serious flaws. We did have a good system as one time.
Oh BTW Germany has the lowest unemployment in the developed world.

Click to expand...

knowing many German Nationals the health care system isn't as good as some AMERICANS would have you believe and in fact many Germans carry additional insurance so that they recieve better care.

Rick

Things musta changed since you were here last.... Niether here nor there...the OP asked a straight ??? and got a straight as I could give answer. The rest of the conversation isn't really important. I'll tell you all that between 1999 and 2001, I had health insurance thru a german company that covered 100% health and dental and cost 99 bucks a month. Wouldn't be possible if everybody didn't have to have it.....

David G · Sep 20, 2011

I pay $900 per month for health insurance, and each kid will cost me $10-20K per year for college. It might be a better deal to be taxed higher and have those covered.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 20, 2011

Dave, Speaking of the German economy how are most Germans feeling about the EU and the PIG countries situations. Seems the EU would be a great idea if, and that is a big if, everyone worked and saved like Germans. Portugal, Italy and Greece economies are basket cases. I was listening to BBC the other day, 2 ideas emerged. First for PIGs to get spending and revenue under control, and PIGs did not like that idea. The second was for EuroBonds paid for by all EU members, with everyone paying PIGs debt, allowing the PIGs to operate business as usual. I bet the Germans and French have problems with that one.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 20, 2011

(quoted from post at 12:21:03 09/20/11) Dave, Speaking of the German economy how are most Germans feeling about the EU and the PIG countries situations. Seems the EU would be a great idea if, and that is a big if, everyone worked and saved like Germans. Portugal, Italy and Greece economies are basket cases. I was listening to BBC the other day, 2 ideas emerged. First for PIGs to get spending and revenue under control, and PIGs did not like that idea. The second was for EuroBonds paid for by all EU members, with everyone paying PIGs debt, allowing the PIGs to operate business as usual. I bet the Germans and French have problems with that one.

I don't know about most, but what I overhear they aren't happy. Noone really gives a ratsass what the french think............ greeks were retiring folks at 58 and rioted when was told that would change....... best way to get the wife's mind off a nag session is to mention the EU and walk out....

Anonymous-0 · Sep 20, 2011

Hmmmm, Papers, Kann I zee your papers? Kinda reminds me of the efficient Natzional zocialist state, that once was:
Barbed wire makes me sentimental

OT for dave2--German economy

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