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Originally Posted by Sgt Mike  I guess in your case you pay for everything that you don't get from the government.
What? Americans are illegally crossing the border into Canada?  Hehehe |
Actually, the Federal Government in Switzerland is very small. The federal tax rate is 4.5%. This pays mostly for the military and defense.
Switzerland is a true federation. Most government services are managed at the Canton/State or at the local level, not through the federal government.
I pay for services, and I get paid to serve. That's the way it works. I pay taxes to pay for roads, rail service, police protection, and many other services. I'm also paid about $25 an hour for my service as a volunteer fire fighter. I won't get rich (I take home about $800 per year), but I also save about $600 per year in fire department tax.
I'm happy that the public transportation system works, that our roads are maintained, that the overall crime rate is very low. If that's what I'm paying for, well then, I'm certainly getting my money's worth.
Can you say the same?