America is NOT the Best Place to live after all.

[Khitty]

I am aware that, in Finland, health care is cheaper and education at all levels is free. On the other hand, the per capita income is 30% less than in America but Finnish still pay an average income tax of 50% (compared to 30% in the U.S.).

[/quote]

what? people in finland pays an average of 50% income tax? OH MY GODFATHER, WOW! thats outrageous and totally not true. in terms of income taxation, the more you earn, the more you pay. but if you say "average income tax" that also means an "average income tax payer" who is earning an "average wage".

here if you have 2 jobs or you are earning an income from more than 1 source then the tax on the second source of income is ALOT higher compare to the first, but you also have to be earning ALOT from that to pay closer to 50%, it can be less or even more depending on the amount of the income. or if someone is earning €20,000 a month then yeah maybe i can believe that person is paying 50% tax.

but then that cant be considered as an "average" anymore coz not more than half of Finnish population is earning that much or is earning from more than one source of income. i've lived in finland for almost 2 yrs now and as far as i know, an average income tax from someone earning an average salary with no other source of income would fall anywhere between 21% to 28%. trust me, im one of the of tax payers who pays an "average" tax and if 50% of my salary goes to it, mo uli nalang kos pilipinas oh and we have 4 seasons in finland and health care is not only cheaper, but closer to being free without compromising the quality.

the thing that impresses me about this country is that their government provides a good security on the aspects of life that people usually worry about like health care, education, unemployment and elderly care.

[LytSlpr]

my sister has been to most of europe and she said nindot daw puy-an ang finland and switzerland compared to the US.

my opinion sad, mas nindot ang US compared any other country because of the American way of life, it may not be a better quality of life but the culture and the society is better in my opinion. Why? because of the variety it offers in most aspects of life but then that's just me.

[xyberblue]

No doubt, Japan is on the list. Very nice and clean place with a very disciplined citizens. No need to worry to roam around past 12. Almost zero ang crime rate dri, wala nalang gud lain news ilang mapasalida sa TV kundi ang weather ra ug ang nahitabo sa laing country.

[tianix]

but no matter what place we would be. nothing beats home. what everyone is mentioning are the physical factors but we also have to consider the intangibles. no matter how nice a foreign land might be, the yearning to go home and be with family and friends is always there. so, para nako, nothing beats cebu.

[Khitty]

but no matter what place we would be. nothing beats home. what everyone is mentioning are the physical factors but we also have to consider the intangibles. no matter how nice a foreign land might be, the yearning to go home and be with family and friends is always there. so, para nako, nothing beats cebu.

bitaw i agree with you. i enjoy living in a foreign country, but nothing can replace our very own. bahalag init, abog, daghan basuras karsada, traffic, daghan snatcher or whatever. it is still where my heart is

[koontz_circle]

but no matter what place we would be. nothing beats home. what everyone is mentioning are the physical factors but we also have to consider the intangibles. no matter how nice a foreign land might be, the yearning to go home and be with family and friends is always there. so, para nako, nothing beats cebu.

yeah Cebu. love to hear that. what will I do in foreign country anyway? more income? remember that more income from foreign country doesn't guarantee happiness, only achievement. bitaw mas nindot jud if naa ka sa imong homeland mo work, live and stick. Loneliness kills.

But we have to consider our individual standards. Naay may tao na ganahan luxurious life. Other just want to have plain living. Precisely ambition is the main motivator. Goals. Thats y we cant blame them if they seek comfort of living from foreign countries.

Pero ako ok rako diri sa Cebu. I'll live and die here.

[Psychepi]

ako ok raman ko dri cebu. contented nko. mga naong ra ug kwarta ganahan sa US. baaaang! wahahah!

[Khitty]

yeah Cebu. love to hear that. what will I do in foreign country anyway? more income? remember that more income from foreign country doesn't guarantee happiness, only achievement. bitaw mas nindot jud if naa ka sa imong homeland mo work, live and stick. Loneliness kills.

But we have to consider our individual standards. Naay may tao na ganahan luxurious life. Other just want to have plain living. Precisely ambition is the main motivator. Goals. Thats y we cant blame them if they seek comfort of living from foreign countries.

Pero ako ok rako diri sa Cebu. I'll live and die here.

yeah it's true nga mas nindot gyud kung naa tas atong kaugalingong lugar manarbaho. actually kung akoy papili-on i would rather live and work in cebu. but what does our own country has to offer? how many people are jobless and living in poverty? i mean lets face it, if you are just a working class citizen earning a minimum wage, maniguwang nalang kag trabaho di gyud ka mo asenso, not in our own country. and thats what motivates people to work elsewhere. i mean considering our economy, who would say no if someone is being offered to work abroad? only the foolish i think.

and i dont think people wants to live in a luxurious life thats why they work abroad. but its because they have a control over what kind of lives they want to live and they have what it takes to make their lives better. so why not? mao nay gi ingon "life is what you make it".

loneliness doesnt kill, but having no money can. and to the poster above who says mga nawng rag kwarta ganahan sa US. who doesn't need money? of course everybody is nawng ug kwarta coz everybody needs it and that includes you.

[koontz_circle]

yeah it's true nga mas nindot gyud kung naa tas atong kaugalingong lugar manarbaho. actually kung akoy papili-on i would rather live and work in cebu. but what does our own country has to offer? how many people are jobless and living in poverty? i mean lets face it, if you are just a working class citizen earning a minimum wage, maniguwang nalang kag trabaho di gyud ka mo asenso, not in our own country. and thats what motivates people to work elsewhere. i mean considering our economy, who would say no if someone is being offered to work abroad? only the foolish i think.

and i dont think people wants to live in a luxurious life thats why they work abroad. but its because they have a control over what kind of lives they want to live and they have what it takes to make their lives better. so why not? mao nay gi ingon "life is what you make it".

loneliness doesnt kill, but having no money can. and to the poster above who says mga nawng rag kwarta ganahan sa US. who doesn't need money? of course everybody is nawng ug kwarta coz everybody needs it and that includes you.

What does our country has to offer? Well, a lot, remember the title of this thread that “ all about living”. And living your life full of contentment doesn’t always end up in money. Its more environmental and something social. Depindi nimo what imong perspective sa social nga term.
And minimum wage.. me myself a minimum wage earner pero I always find a way to make myself happy. Not in a personal way.. Life is not living in money alone mah folk. It’s the LOVE.

I believe people want to have instant progress, they refuse to strive hard everyday. That’s why I mentioned that depindi rana sa tao.. if she/he want that money in an instant, so be it, go elsewhere. If he/she want it through sweat.. so do it.. step by step.

Your opinion about money is very acceptable. Yes, we all love that money. That’s the reason why we live. But that’s not the most primitive tool of happy living.

Want to know why? Ok, have this book on you titled “ Life’s Little Instructional Book” , Hope this could be of much help to you, about living life & money… (that you’re trying to argue with)

Im not urging you to come back here.. and work your way the way we do..

Do your money. I’ll do mine. Make your living happy. I’ll do mine.

Pls: Pareha rani sa giingon nga mapugos pakasal sa Kano kay para mabuhi ang tibouk pamilya.. Mapugos trabaho sa gawas bisan dili sya comfortable sa place.
No offense.

[Khitty]

so bahalag saging basta labing? can you use love to pay bills, send your children to school, buy food, medicine, clothing, shelter and other basic needs? just because some people have more money than others, doesn't mean they dont give importance to love. after all it's probably the love that drives them to other country to work. maybe because they love their family and wants to give them a good life?

naa ras imong gi sulti about mapugos ug pakasal sa kano kay para mabuhi and tibuok pamilya, or mapugos ug trabaho sa gawas bisan dili sya comfortable. why do people do that? its most likely because of love.

and you think people working abroad doesn't earn their money through sweat? do you think we just sit around do nothing and earn the kind of money in a month that will probably take you a year to earn? dili nalang nako e-elaborate kay ma out of topic na. in life, we do what we have to do. and thank you for the book that you recommended, but i dont think i need it.