“Naturally, we could also treat those who earn 1M, in the SAME GENERAL WAY as their like-earning peers. But, I assume you’d object, because it wouldn’t be aligned with the normal progressiveness.”

Where did I say that .

But, seriously speking, I – me – think progressivenss is FAIR. Especially in the presence of sales-taxes. To what degree, and at which point of sacle “progressiveness” should end, I have no hard lines.

But MY moral judgement “system” does NOT allow Kimi Räikkönen to have 15% income tax (just to make him tax his income in Finland, rather than whatever tax haven he uses), whereas I pay 30%. No matter what.

Whether your moral judgement “system” does, then fine with me. But you have to convince some more people than me – whom you will never convince – before that will happen.

“To look at the ‘big picture’, this type of high-progressiveness, egalitarian ideology is the reason why such a large percentage of Finnish companies are owned by people who live outside of Finland—presumably, in non-ideological lands.”

Investment into Finland, isn’t that the glory of global economics? Why are YOU against investment into Finland?

And, in what sense does – REALLY – “high-progressiveness, egalitarian ideology” create a situation where finnish companies are owned from abroads?

And concerning “egalitarian ideology” – which ideology isn’t egalitarian? In one way or another?

And that’s where the profits from our work go.

I know exactly what you mean, and I agree. In Finland’s case, people who earn 25K are treated the SAME GENERAL WAY in relation to others at that income level. Those who earn 45K are also treated similar to others of equal income.

Naturally, we could also treat those who earn 1M, in the SAME GENERAL WAY as their like-earning peers. But, I assume you’d object, because it wouldn’t be aligned with the normal progressiveness.

Too bad, because Finland loses lots of free capital and talent that way. Other countries gain from Finland’s loss.

Just to make it clear: I think tax systems should at least treat people EQUALLY in the sense that everybody are treated in the SAME GENERAL WAY. Individual DEALS with certain persons is not my cup of tea.

“Insofar as treating people equally, a flat tax would accomplish that best.”

Why is that? What’s EQUAL about a flat tax? Isn’t a POLL tax more EQUAL? Everybody pays exactly the same?

Every tax system can be motivated in terms of EQUALITY.

Yeah, I don’t think we need to start pulling teeth from Jews at this point

Insofar as treating people equally, a flat tax would accomplish that best. Not sure if I’d favor that though.

Nevertheless, if we could find other ways to make it possible for wealthy people to live here, then I’d be in favor of that. I’d be nice to have Kimi Raikkonen back

“Generally, cantons in Switzerland negotiate deals with entertainers and other wealthy people to live there for a fixed tax rate.”

If you’d like to live in a society like this, that’s your choice. I prefer one where everybody is treated equally (sound “libertarian” doesn’t it, but it is egalitarian rather).

Finland is part of the EU now. It means, we cannot – like the swiss – provide bank vaults for gold teeth ripped out of concentration camp jews mouths. We cannot offer 0% interest rate savings accounts for drug/slavery/mercenary/whatever money. The EU wouldn’t like it. Don’t you think there is a reason why the Swiss chose to not participate in the united states of europe? What would happen to their banking business, if they’d join.

“Food portions tend to be much larger in the US. For example

Yes, for sure.”

Not true in e.g. N.Y.C. at least to my experience. A European town in many ways.

Provo, Utah, yes, redicuously big meals, even if you chose medium size.

“I think if I had one thing to bring home to the U.S. from Finland, it would be the bike-road network. It should be funded by the transportation authorities just like the road and highway system cause it’s just as important.”

Socialism. Will not happen.

“There’s no proper bike-road network in the states because most Americans have never experienced one, so they don’t know to demand it.”

They have never EXPERIENCED it so they do not demand it? WTF is wrong with the people in the U.S. They can only demand something they’ve experienced? I.e. they can only copy things. I thought the U.S. people were known for their innovations. That’s what certain libertarian U.S.-imports keep claiming here.

“But I guess it would be difficult to implement in an existing neighborhood due to lack of space.”

What’s the point in PLANNING? A libertarian brother of yours here praised the opportunity to move to meticuosly un-planned neighbourhoods, and shoot at your neighbours, believing they are deers.

“The bus connections around here are difficult—at least for getting to the school. ”

Do you ever wonder why? Could it be that the bus connections are designed in order to facilitate making use of services provided by Helsinki? So that you can have your “small-house paradise” there in Espoo. Parasites. And in the next phrase you can conveniantly whine about the metro decision, and send the buses + cars into Helsinki, one more day.

Mostly I would walk or cycle, or mom/dad would take me if it was too freezing. On occasion we took kicksled, but for that you need totally frozen streets.

I don’t like driving from Kirkkonummi to Hanko. It might well be the crappiest road in Finland. Hell of a lot of use for your cruise control as the speed limit alternates between 60 and 100 on 1 km intervals.

Seriously, Switzerland has stars like Tina Turner, if I’m not mistaken. My cousin’s neighbor owns a farm there and gave her a ride in his horse-drawn wagon. According to them, she sang the whole time! Funny thing is that my cousin’s neighbor is more of a horse-freak, so he was less concerned about the identity of his passenger.

Generally, cantons in Switzerland negotiate deals with entertainers and other wealthy people to live there for a fixed tax rate. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, our own Kimi Raikkonen lives in Switzerland because his government here in Finland can’t accomodate him. Those in the Finnish government really need to get their heads out of their asses. It’s free money for us!

I would like a bike path from Kirkkonummi to Hanko. There-and-back is a daytrip, with power-assist. Very healthy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JksLdLq8bt4

I don’t like riding on the road’s shoulder because it’s too dangerous.

There’s a simple way to attract lots of capital: don’t be too concerned about where it came from. The Medellin cartel? Bienvenido. The Russian mob? Harashoo. Al Qaeda? Salaam aleikum. Odessa? Ja, danke.

They might have the lawyers, but we have the courts.

Switzerland does a nice job attracting money-people. How do you think they can afford to drill those mountains full of so many holes? Not to mention all that cheese.

There’re hundreds-of-billions—maybe even trillions—in capital out there. Are we doing enough to attract the people who own and control it?

Sure, they own parts of companies for which we work, but they take the profit with them, away from Finland. Meanwhile, our bike-road network sits uncompleted.