Newt or Mitt VS Obama. Can either of 'em beat him?

[BC]

The greatest problem in the US and some other countries now is, I think, the large loss of jobs. In Norway there is more than full employment. Anyone willing will find a job and there are thousands of foreigners coming here to get jobs. The fastest growing group of immigrants are Polish and there are many from Sweden and Denmark and other countries as well.
 
No country or system is perfect of course, and there's always plenty to complain about. But I think if you asked people here, I think practically none would exchange the welfare state for the system in USA.

I think this and many other similar articles reflects the subject of unemployment in my previous post.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/03/14/smallbusiness/trade-schools/index.htm

"Employers right now need workers with these high-precision skills. But the mismatch is that most of America's unemployed workforce doesn't possess these skills," Smierciak said.
So manufacturers are racing to trade schools like Wilbur Wright, one of only seven schools in Illinois that offer an accredited CNC course, and snapping up newly-minted factory workers as quickly as they can.
The demand for his graduates is so intense that last year's CNC graduating class scored a 100% job placement.

The brunt of unemployment is carried by young people with high school education or less.  Those with good trade school, or university degrees in technical, science and math are doing very well.

Any way one looks at it, jobs can be created only if there are skilled workers to fill them.  -That is the ultimate source of labor market problems and unemployment.  The solution is better education in reading, sciences and math.  According to OECD statistics, the US is about average in reading and science, but low in math.  The countries that excel in BOTH math and sciences tend to do very well as it regards unemployment.  Shanghai, South Korea, Finland, Hong Kong, Switzerland, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Macao etc..

Here's the competition folks.....

[GQBlues]

I'm happy Europeans have their system the way they are in Europe. I'm happy life had always been grand. Really. I'm happy the social system you have work real nice and dandy for all of you. Yipee!

You'll just have to excuse some of the silly news we read here about how Greece is on the brink of default again and that it'll soon see the exit gates from the EU zone. Not far behind is Spain, Slovenia, etc...unless someone bails someone out like we do here with the Unions.

I know, I know...mother Germany is right behind to save the day, or even the EU copy-constitutional member states (sic) itself.

This is one American who firmly believes that social system are nothing more economical pyramid scheme, or the more cosmopolitan term, a Ponzi Scheme. We have that type of system in the US which the majority tax payers are constantly having to rescue (sound familiar?) - UAW and the like.

 Oh yeah, life is good for many folks in those systems. So good in fact, their union bosses can pretty much whisper jump and they'll universally ask, 'How high?". Sometimes they don't even whisper, they just do it from a snap of the fingers.

No thanks, I believe the average American isn't molded in that way. This nation refuses to be mired in mediocrity. Stagnant. Americans are hard-working innovative folks. I'm sure you can attest how much you enjoy the finer things in life that surrounds you these days courtesy of American ingenuity, no?

Social system is good and sustainable for as long as you have a very strong and steady influx of bottom revenue, equal to or greater than pensioners. The problem with that is, the baseline is growing faster and exponentially. Until that scheme maintain the structure, it's fine. The creation of the 'EU' is a good proof (example) of that. It isn't a coincidence that Greece is the best and at the same time the worst example of a social system. It is heralded as the best country in the world for pensioners and social care, and unfortunately at the same time...well...

Moreover, and unless our good neighbors from across the big ocean forget ~ Europe, unlike the US, don't exactly carry the same working assets the US do domestically..40+ million illegal immigrants. Comparing apples to apples, relative number for EU would be closer to 100 million. Now, think for a minute how that many beneficiaries would impact your system, no? Remember Berlin.

[BC]

GQ,

Greece was a known factor when the UE formed.  Everyone knew back then what was going on, but it was a catch 22 situation... the northern countries did not want southern countries to become lucrative, cheap labor countries.  Don't forget that the med countries, Italy, Spain, Greece can basically feed themselves.  Now the north is having to put up or shut up..  Each of these countries have huge 'black economies' that if counted would dramatically change the official figures.  How does Spain with huge unemployment figures survive with low government debt??  Go figure.  Per capita national debt in Spain is less than half that in the US!

Greece has already half defaulted...  sure some folks got burned, the other half will burn some more, but exposure is relatively small.  If Greece exits the Euro, they will thrive as a low wage market, sucking jobs from the north.  That's what keeps them going.  It's already happening...  Last year I booked flights to the US... airtickets24.com..  great deal.. USAIR guess what? Greek travel agent.  This week booked a rental car up 'north' for a week.. economycarrentals.com guess what? great price Sixt.. just saw the AMEX charge for the booking... company in Iraklion Greece. 

They will survive as will the rest of Europe.

As for illegal immigration.. the figures I found for the US are somewhere between 12 and 20 million..  Wasn't able to find a good figure for all of EU, but judging from a country by country search, I don't think 12 million would be unreasonable.  Consider also that legal immigration to Italy, even Canada is higher that to the US..  sure  It's a problem to be dealt with.. most European countries are probably a bit stricter than the US, but maybe for a good reason... the US needs a good cheap labor source, especially in agriculture.  Demographics in many aging countries might even need more of them.  Even there it's a balancing act.  What I do think is wrong is to blame it all on illegal immigration.. unemployment, healthcare cost, social services costs....  It's just another scare tactic and I am fairly surprised, that you allow yourself to be spoon fed this propaganda.  Instead of contempt prior to investigation, dig into the data.. research a bit and think long and hard.

Oh.. btw... the 40 million 'illegals' you mention?... that figure includes both legal AND illegal immigrants living in the US....  Your wife may be or have been one of them..

The number of foreign-born residents in the United States — including legal and illegal immigrants — reached 40 million last year, the highest figure in American history, new Census Bureau figures disclose.

http://www.newsmax.com/InsiderReport/Immigrant-Population-All-Time-High/2011/11/13/id/417827

Europe has about 32 Million and I don't think  illegal immigrants have been counted. 

If not, that would put EU on par with the US as far as overall immigration goes.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/sep/07/immigration-europe-foreign-citizens

Your assessment seems a bit faulty..  maybe a by a lot.

[GQBlues]

BC-

1) On the pretext, you imply illegal immigration in the EU is on par to that of the US, yet you can't find any study or census done to determine the hard number of illegal immigrants in the EU. Don't you find that rather interesting for something you imply as 'problematic' as it is in the US? Especially since the EU are far less accommodating to illegal immigrants than the US. You tell me my basis is faulty (by a lot) yet you contest it strictly based on a 'guess'?

The 2010 census did in fact cited the numbers you quoted. That may have been my bad when I read the report (legal/illegal). But to have an estimated range with almost a 100% tolerance and/or disparity is perplexing to say the least (11 to 20 million). It's an election year, so I'm not sure how that conveniences the public. Unlike you however, living here, I would have more of a 'feel' exactly what that number is and how it affects our society than you on any given Sunday. Moreover, there was a study done in the US that reported 1 in 6 babies born in the US are from mothers who are an illegal alien. These babies are constitutionally citizens with rights and full privilege as any American but with the distinct difference that they, or their parent's, aren't exactly contributors to our system.

I picked fruits for a little over 1.3 years. I know that industry fairly well. Don't believe mainstream media's story that if the farmers were to hire legal workers somehow the cost of produce will shyrocket to high prices. Truth is, it won't make a whole lot of difference. Why? Because whatever one saves from 'cheap' labor for hiring illegal aliens to pick the fruits isn't passed on to the consumers, but rather stays with the farmers. These silly stories are fueled by the left leaning media. Not everyone in the agricultural industry hire only illegal immigrants. A case for a silly point ~ I haven't yet walked down an aisle in any produce market with a price ad that reads "Save more! Our fruits are picked by illegal immigrants and the savings are passed on to you!"

I won't go into the US and EU's labor distinction between citizens and legal residents working in the US vs. the EU. You know well enough how it is in Europe as I do in the US. What I can tell you in the US, a legal resident is as qualified for any job as any US citizen.

I never blamed illegal immigration as the reason for our socioeconomic, but I will state is it a MAJOR contributor to our internal problems.

2) Your 2 anecdotal samples (i.e. Greece) apparently doesn't quite agree with major financial institution, nor does Germany and EU as a whole. To brush off the Greece situation as blase as you have seem rather strange since one would wonder then why bail them out in the first place. Then again and again.

Besides, the point being made on my post isn't whether or not Greece/Spain/Slovenia/Ireland/Iceland, etc... will be fine in the long run whether they belong to the EU or not. The point we're discussing here is whether or not social system is as perfect some of you would like for everyone to believe. It isn't.

Thus, I firmly stand by my previous sentiment.

[SANDRO43]

One aspect many people here seem not to know or blithely ignore is that, right after WWII, most of Europe was deeply suffering one way or another: wrecked industries, houses in ruins, damaged infrastructures, unemployment, food shortages, masses of widowed women and orphaned children, cripples, etc. etc - a very grim situation that the US mostly avoided due to their isolated geographical position and later entering into the conflict.

This dramatic situation was probably one of the main reasons for deciding that our governments should take more care of their citizens, and provide the communal 'safety nets' that families alone were no longer in a position to offer .

[TheTraveler]

good posts by gq.

but no matter what lengths one goes to explain the american aversion to collectivism, i doubt the average european will/can grasp it.

it has to be lived and experienced to be understood.

just as i don't grasp how the benefits of euro socialist services can justify the loss of personal freedoms.

[Anotherkiwi]

...just as i don't grasp how the benefits of euro socialist services can justify the loss of personal freedoms.

Seriously, what personal freedoms do you believe have been lost?

[TheTraveler]

Seriously, what personal freedoms do you believe have been lost?

freedom from confiscatory tax rates -- which are implemented under the threat of fines and/or imprisonment for underpayment.
 
(i could name many others, but that's my #1 choice.)
 

[calmissile]

freedom from confiscatory tax rates -- which are implemented under the threat of fines and/or imprisonment for underpayment.
 
(i could name many others, but that's my #1 choice.)

The right to bear arms!

[Misha]

the US needs a good cheap labor source, especially in agriculture.  Demographics in many aging countries might even need more of them.  Even there it's a balancing act.  What I do think is wrong is to blame it all on illegal immigration.. unemployment, healthcare cost, social services costs....  It's just another scare tactic and I am fairly surprised, that you allow yourself to be spoon fed this propaganda.

Though, it could be said that Europe also needs the cheap labor source for its agriculture, but by expanding the European Union, they integrated cheap labour into the union and everybody benefits. I am visiting distant relatives of my wife in Germany, and they refer to the Poles who work for the local farmers. They work in Germany earning many times more that they would back home and in turn they hire even cheaper labour from Belarus to take care of their farms while they are working in Germany  Everybody benefits.

[BC]

BC-

1) On the pretext, you imply illegal immigration in the EU is on par to that of the US, yet you can't find any study or census done to determine the hard number of illegal immigrants in the EU. Don't you find that rather interesting for something you imply as 'problematic' as it is in the US? Especially since the EU are far less accommodating to illegal immigrants than the US. You tell me my basis is faulty (by a lot) yet you contest it strictly based on a 'guess'?

The 2010 census did in fact cited the numbers you quoted. That may have been my bad when I read the report (legal/illegal). But to have an estimated range with almost a 100% tolerance and/or disparity is perplexing to say the least (11 to 20 million). It's an election year, so I'm not sure how that conveniences the public. Unlike you however, living here, I would have more of a 'feel' exactly what that number is and how it affects our society than you on any given Sunday. Moreover, there was a study done in the US that reported 1 in 6 babies born in the US are from mothers who are an illegal alien. These babies are constitutionally citizens with rights and full privilege as any American but with the distinct difference that they, or their parent's, aren't exactly contributors to our system.

Fair question GQ.  It was a bit amazing not to find much info at all in English which would be common for EU level studies.  I was able to find some info from studies in German though that put the 'official' number of illegals (without residency permit) between 4 and 6 million.  That's about half of the 12 million mentioned in the US.  There are some factors though that bump the EU vs US.  First around 3 times as many asylum seekers each year, 1 million for EU http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugee .  The amount of amnesties in Europe since the 80's is much higher than the 3 million Reagan issued. In 1990 Spain alone added a million.  Although that may seem like grasping a bit to reach parity with the US it's close enough to reality and in any case shows some of the differences with immigration policies.  Bottom line I think one can safely assume that illegal and 'shadow' migration is a large problem on both sides of the Atlantic rather than being a unique factor.

According to this document http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/reports/125.pdf 8% of births in the US to unauthorized immigration parents.

I picked fruits for a little over 1.3 years. I know that industry fairly well. Don't believe mainstream media's story that if the farmers were to hire legal workers somehow the cost of produce will shyrocket to high prices. Truth is, it won't make a whole lot of difference. Why? Because whatever one saves from 'cheap' labor for hiring illegal aliens to pick the fruits isn't passed on to the consumers, but rather stays with the farmers. These silly stories are fueled by the left leaning media. Not everyone in the agricultural industry hire only illegal immigrants. A case for a silly point ~ I haven't yet walked down an aisle in any produce market with a price ad that reads "Save more! Our fruits are picked by illegal immigrants and the savings are passed on to you!"

My main point was that in an aging society (and the US is one) there will be demand for younger workers that outstrip supply.  Illegal economic refugees tend to be younger on average than the country population.  If there were no demand, there would be no supply.  It's pretty simple.

I won't go into the US and EU's labor distinction between citizens and legal residents working in the US vs. the EU. You know well enough how it is in Europe as I do in the US. What I can tell you in the US, a legal resident is as qualified for any job as any US citizen.

Other than asylum seekers in some EU countries, a legal resident is allowed to work here also.  In fact, my wife was allowed to work the day she immigrated, no need for a 'work permit' at all.

I never blamed illegal immigration as the reason for our socioeconomic, but I will state is it a MAJOR contributor to our internal problems.

As it is a MAJOR contributor to financial problems here.  Maybe it's used a bit less as political leverage here, more along the lines of a being a common problem and not that high on the election agenda.  Ditto topics such as abortion, religion, etc.

2) Your 2 anecdotal samples (i.e. Greece) apparently doesn't quite agree with major financial institution, nor does Germany and EU as a whole. To brush off the Greece situation as blase as you have seem rather strange since one would wonder then why bail them out in the first place. Then again and again.

The main motivation for 'all possible inclusion' in EU is to level the playing field over as large an area as possible, which negates the possibility of cheap labor countries.  It's a trade off that is grudgingly having to be paid for by the EU as a whole.  What's 303 billion vs EU GDP of almost 13 trillion?

Besides, the point being made on my post isn't whether or not Greece/Spain/Slovenia/Ireland/Iceland, etc... will be fine in the long run whether they belong to the EU or not. The point we're discussing here is whether or not social system is as perfect some of you would like for everyone to believe. It isn't.

Thus, I firmly stand by my previous sentiment.

No system is 'perfect', but the social system here has been working for many decades. There are still many inefficiencies but in general works quite well, both economically and as it regards the state of citizens health. The US is a true 'newbie' when it comes to universal health care with all disadvantages expounded upon for political reasons with the true, long term benefits generally disregarded, even hidden from the common voter.  On this point I think folks in the US could do a bit more listening and learning.

[BC]

good posts by gq.

but no matter what lengths one goes to explain the american aversion to collectivism, i doubt the average european will/can grasp it.

it has to be lived and experienced to be understood.

just as i don't grasp how the benefits of euro socialist services can justify the loss of personal freedoms.

freedom from confiscatory tax rates -- which are implemented under the threat of fines and/or imprisonment for underpayment.
 
(i could name many others, but that's my #1 choice.)
 

Taxes till death do us part..  that's life everywhere.  Once taxes dramatically affect the quality of life of ordinary citizens in a negative manner it is disproportionate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality-of-life_Index  I see no correlation with your assertion.

The right to bear arms!

Many here own guns for private purposes.. hunters, collectors,  It's a fairly straightforward process that includes training, mental assessment and insists that they be maintained securely.  Carry permits for pistols are also issued when there is a justified reason to do so.  So we do have the right to bear arms here.. just not ANY firearm, anywhere with the barest of checks and training.

Any other 'limitation of freedom' out there?

Want to talk about more important aspects of life?  How about the right to privacy?  This is one area where I think rights of citizens and residents in the EU are greater than in the US.  Any rebuttals?

[Anotherkiwi]

freedom from confiscatory tax rates -- which are implemented under the threat of fines and/or imprisonment for underpayment.
 
(i could name many others, but that's my #1 choice.)

You obviously have a totally different system of paying taxes from us.  All wage and salary earners in New Zealand have income tax deducted prior to the money ending up in our bank accounts (PAYE - Pay As You Earn).  Most contractors have withholding tax deducted from their payments (usually at a rate of 20%), while self-employed people pay on their assessed income at the end of the financial year (which ends on 31st March, and we have until the following 7th February to actually pay anything owing).  Because the great majority of people don't even see their tax money there are very few problems with our Inland Revenue Department.  Our tax returns are also very straightforward - only 4 or 6 pages, which can usually be finished in half an hour if you have all your business receipts, etc.  These don't even need to be completed by Salaried Joe unless he or she thinks that they will get a refund.
 
The only other tax which we have to worry about is GST (Goods and Services Tax, the equivalent of Europe's VAT), which is levied on nearly everything at a rate of 15%.  By law it is included in all prices, so you don't have to try to work it out and add it on.  This can be claimed back by those self-employed people who are registered for GST.  We don't have any other direct sales taxes or State taxes, although property owners do pay rates to their local City or District Council to cover things such as rubbish and sewage disposal, roading improvements, libraries, etc.
 
Our tax rates certainly aren't "confiscatory" - I pay an average of about 22% a year in income tax.  For that we get (amongst other things) free hospital care and free primary and secondary education.  Our top tax rate is only 33% (which is also the company tax rate), and that applies only to the very top bracket of earners.
 

The right to bear arms!

Doug, I agree with BC on this one.  The gun laws in most of the USA are a total joke, as are the apologists for whichever amendment to the Constitution allows you to bear arms in a manner which was never envisaged by your Founding Fathers.  I live in a country which has stringent gun control, and where handguns are not allowed to be sold except under the most punitive conditions.  Of course criminals still get hold of them, but last year there were only 39 murders in the whole country, of which fewer than 10 were shootings.
 
Contrast that with places such as Detroit and Washington DC, both with much smaller populations than ours, where there is at least one shooting murder PER DAY.  GOB's wife has a Permit to Carry a 9mm (Beretta? Glock?) in her handbag - I'm glad I live in a country where such pemits simply don't exist.  Even our police (in general) are unarmed, although most patrol cars do carry weapons locked away for use if absolutely necessary.

[The Natural]

Anotherkiwi,
 
Very similar to Norway, what you wrote. I've read before that New Zealand and Norway has very similar systems, population size. But we don't have the warm climate and exotic animals you do 

[Anotherkiwi]

Anotherkiwi,
 
Very similar to Norway, what you wrote. I've read before that New Zealand and Norway has very similar systems, population size. But we don't have the warm climate and exotic animals you do 

Warm climate?  Not at the moment, that's for sure!  Saturday was supposedly the first day of spring, and we're struggling to get above 15 degrees.  Auckland has a very mild, temperate climate, and even in summer we might only get to 30 degrees once or twice (we equalled our all-time record of 32.2 last summer).  What we have had is rain - over 40 mm yesterday, another 20 today - and this after my holiday in Australia where I saw no rain in nearly a month!
 
Exotic animals?  You have reindeer!  And bears! And snakes!  We have the tuatara (the last living dinosaur), the kiwi (which most people know), the kakapo (the world's biggest parrot, which is flightless and therefore endangered), and a couple of really weird frogs.  For entertainment we have the kereru, the world's biggest (?) pigeon, many of which have been known to fall out of a tree when drunk on nectar, and the kea, our smiling assasin of a mountain parrot which loves people, has a fetish for rubber (windscreen wiper blades and window seals especially) and murders sheep in its spare time.

[TheTraveler]

Once taxes dramatically affect the quality of life of ordinary citizens in a negative manner it is disproportionate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality-of-life_Index  I see no correlation with your assertion.

and what is an 'ordinary citizen'?.... is that someone who is a member of 'the masses'?
 
(as illustrated even by the vocabulary, there is a huge disconnect between the american and the non-american self-images.)
 

[BC]

and what is an 'ordinary citizen'?.... is that someone who is a member of 'the masses'?
 
(as illustrated even by the vocabulary, there is a huge disconnect between the american and the non-american self-images.)

Ordinary citizens as in people that work in exchange for remuneration, but yes, addressing the vast majority or masses.

About the disconnect.. who is non american?

[TheTraveler]

forgot that you are an american living in italy.

[TheTraveler]

 
i despise the terms 'average citizen'... 'the masses'.
 
i never considered myself anything short of extraordinary.  a great many people that i know carry themselves likewise.
 
i'm sure you don't consider yourself average, either.

[BC]

i despise the terms 'average citizen'... 'the masses'.
 
i never considered myself anything short of extraordinary.  a great many people that i know carry themselves likewise.
 
i'm sure you don't consider yourself average, either.

No need to be offended..  It was more along the line of ordinary taxpayers (the term I maybe should have used) which would exclude corporations and other entities like churches, non profits etc etc. who may or may not be taxpayers.

It was not meant to be disparaging.

I am however interested in other 'freedoms' you mentioned I lost by living over here..

[TheTraveler]

i wasn't offended, and i understood that you weren't trying to offend.
 
i see progressive taxation (instituted in the usa, but taken to a whole new level in europe) as having the consequence of keeping middle-class income people from moving up into another higher class of income (eg joining the 1%).
 
while money doesn't equal freedom... more of it can certainly make a person more free.  and those who have less are certainly less free.
 
thanks to relative economic freedom and pro-business policies in the usa, i've been able to build a successful business and achieve more personal freedom.  i have serious doubts that i could have accomplished what i accomplished in europe.
 
an environment that is more 'wide open' suits me better.  more risk, but higher potential for reward.
 
i recognize that none of this may apply to you, and that's why i didn't describe you personally as 'less free'.
 

[BC]

i wasn't offended, and i understood that you weren't trying to offend.
 
i see progressive taxation (instituted in the usa, but taken to a whole new level in europe) as having the consequence of keeping middle-class income people from moving up into another higher class of income (eg joining the 1%).
 
while money doesn't equal freedom... more of it can certainly make a person more free.  and those who have less are certainly less free.
 
thanks to relative economic freedom and pro-business policies in the usa, i've been able to build a successful business and achieve more personal freedom.  i have serious doubts that i could have accomplished what i accomplished in europe.
 
an environment that is more 'wide open' suits me better.  more risk, but higher potential for reward.
 
i recognize that none of this may apply to you, and that's why i didn't describe you personally as 'less free'.

Traveler,

I've been self employed 'over here' since '85, so I can't really say that business is any easier or tougher here or there.  Most of my 'brick and mortar' business success was in Germany which is for the most part a very regulated and even playing field.  One follows the rules.  This may seem restrictive, but what many forget is that good, even handed regulation allows for true competition.  This also means that small businesses do have a chance.  This also boils down to the employee level..

I'm going to stick my neck out here a bit...

If you have employees, what paid vacation time do you allow?  Lets say you allow 1 week the first year and 2 weeks the next 5 years...  what happens when a business opens up down the street, selling similar products and/ or services but allows no vacation the first year and only 1 week the next 5 years?  Does that not put you at a disadvantage? Or do you think your productivity would be that much higher for 'happy' employees that get a bit more vacation time? 

 

[TheTraveler]

27 years of business ownership?  you definitely don't qualify as one of 'the masses'.  big ups to you on that, bc!

[BC]

Traveler,

and I'll stick my neck out a bit more.....

You are an employer.  One of your best and most productive employees went out with his pals on a long weekend bar hopping, having a good time and got mugged, ending up with a complex broken collar bone requiring a few screws and hardware plus some cracked ribs that punched his lung.  The perpetrators were not caught. This employee worked in your warehouse so for the next 8 to 12 weeks is basically worthless to you.. 'out of business'.   What do  you do, keep him or fire him?  He's out a couple K for the med bills, doesn't have any sick time accrued and his light, water and mortgage is due.

You really like the guy and want him back.  Will you pay his med bills and keep him above water until he can return?  During his 'down' time he finds another job opening right about the time he is all healed up.  Do you think he will come back if you don't help him out?

In Germany you would just have to cover 6 weeks wages like all other employers, then the state health insurance company would reimburse you for most of his wages thereafter.  He will be happy, you will be happy and he'll be back, ready to go instead of being pissed you had to fire him for just 'one of those many things' that happen in life', maybe going to your competition, raising their bottom line instead.

[BC]

27 years of business ownership?  you definitely don't qualify as one of 'the masses'.  big ups to you on that, bc!

Traveler,

as you well know, it takes an initial huge leap in faith to take the steps necessary to go from employee to employer, dependent to independent along with all the risks and pitfalls.  I congratulate you instead.  That feeling of answering to yourself instead of someone else is irreversible despite the huge accrued responsibility.

That feeling may not be one that the 'masses' enjoy, but it is truly universal.  I get the feeling you are riding that 'high'.. and that is great.  Just don't think such is limited by borders.

I personally find that the scary word inappropriately being used- 'socialism' is in essence very much about level playing fields and not much else.

Just my POV.