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07/06/25
18:22
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Originally posted by pintohoo:
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''When over in France recently and discussing with my cousin, it seems that the French are taxed more than us Aussies ... He was talking about 25% of a wage being paid to go towards things like health and social services and pension etc... then after that the people are taxed on their earnings... Is this your reality there ? '' hmmmm - no and yes France runs on a very different system. (there're contributions and then there's tax - and no it's not just same thing, different words) When gets income --- *first money out is 'contributions' - this is what everyone contributes for services and this is the primary reason why people want and continually complain about services - because they are paying for those services and if they aren't good enough - they complain *next money out is 'contribution to pension fund' ---- so it's THEIR money. So, when they retire and 'everyone gets a pension' - they receive that not as a 'gift' from government - but as a return on their lifetime investment (so this is why there's such a fuss about pension changes - it's THEIR money) *then, and only then comes 'tax' - and that pays for national things like defence and the like. The French are like Swedes in a way - they don't complain so much or at all about 'contributions for services' - they are quite happy to pay for them - if they get good services. The Swedes are more than happy to pay, because they understand that the more they pay, the better the services. Amazingly - there's little or no service abuse. The only complaint one regularly hears in France is how and when services are running down. It's quite difficult to compare service delivery in France with Oz - because I've found that - say availability of something like specialist care ---------- one can get an appointment with a specialist tomorrow - or sometimes - even this afternoon - crazy. But for some other specialist services - one has to wait months. Because of some of the systems - even for 'difficult to get services' - it's often possible to find a specialist 'somewhere' - on line - and if one is prepared to travel - then, one can get service next day or next few days. It's all quite different. So, yes - French probably pay more - but, they sure get a LOT more for what they pay. And importantly - it's a vastly different cultural experience to Oz - where people in one place - Oz consider that government is 'giving' - whereas in France - people are considering that they are getting what they are paying for. It completely changes the dynamic.
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Great explanation... thanks... So how would the average wage compare? My cousin said around 4000 Euros a month? I saw a stat that says Net wage minnimum is qround $1500 Euro's last year.. is that amount after all contributions and tax taken out? It does not leave a great deal. In OZ a disability pension around $1120 a fortnight what would a French person receive ?