Taxes aren’t the problem

There are 13 Northwest European countries north of the Alps and not formerly in the Soviet bloc. All countries, except for France and Ireland, are doing better than the United States in the current economy.

These 11 countries are reporting only 6.4 percent unemployment compared to the United States’ 9.1 percent. They pay an average maximum individual tax rate of 47 percent, corporate tax rate of 29.6 percent and a value-added tax rate of 18.9 percent, compared to individual tax rates of 35 percent, corporate tax rate of 35 percent and no value-added tax in the United States.

Every one of these countries is rated to have a better quality of life and better health care than we do in the United States. Only Belgium is rated to have a poorer education system. It is clear from these numbers that high taxes are not the cause of our economic problems in the United States.

Instead, our problems are most likely caused by misguided economic theories. Maybe our congressional leaders should be studying these countries to correct our current economic flaws.

George Thomas Clark

Deer Park