Prices around here are getting out of hand!!!

[Kathi OD]

Why does the Canadian army have soldiers posted in PA?

Probably for the same reason the United States has soldiers stationed in more than 150 different countries around the globe.

It's been going on for a very long time. I went to junior high with a girl who's father was in in the Norwegian Navy. That was back in the 60's.

 

[eliza61]

I can understand how an eye surgery would seem extremely important to your father but it is not a life threatening condition either. You do have the choice to pay cash if you choose as well if you have it.

That health insurance premium jump needs to be taken up with your insurance company and hospitals who are big business now and in it for the profit. It is not all about the free healthcare/ or low pay healthcare for children that is increasing those premiums there is a lot more at play that you can not blame it on just one thing. If you don't like your pay/healthcare costs or any other thing here in America I am sure Canada or England will wlecome you back.

May I ask a question. Why do we do this? not just you but I've seen this type of thing a lot. If some one dares to question or criticize this country, first response is "get out"? Are we so thin skinned that any critique that isn't glorious we get defensive or is it we are so insecure we can't even stand to think that some other country might actually have a good idea?

 

[angwill]

May I ask a question. Why do we do this? not just you but I've seen this type of thing a lot. If some one dares to question or criticize this country, first response is "get out"? Are we so thin skinned that any critique that isn't glorious we get defensive or is it we are so insecure we can't even stand to think that some other country might actually have a good idea?

You are misinterpreting what I said. It is not the fact that America is questioned. I believe that some things are done better in other countries.

Now if you are from another country you most likely come here and get duel citizenship which means you are welcome back there at any time. This is not true if you move to other countries from America. If you move to America and want to complain about it and say you miss something about your old country the truth is that they have a choice to go back to that country if you like.

The way I interpreted what the poster said was actually critisizing Canada and having to wait for non life threatening healthcare there which if not paying cash in America is also true. I also interpreted her as complaining that America helps make sure the young people here get good health care no matter what their parents income, by either making it low cost or sometimes free, and claimed that was why her premiums went up. This makes her mad enough to have to hold her tongue when a child in her class said he was grateful for it. Her thinking that is why her premiums went up is a good excuse but not the whole reason. She said she missed one country she used to live in as well. Saying her old countries would welcome her back was not meant as an insult but stating fact. If you want to complain about how your current job does things you and then say how your old job had it's faults but you miss it there you also have the choice to quit and go back to the old job, right? No different and no insecurity in that so why would there be in the other statement? "get out" was never used. I was just stating a choice she had.

 

[patsal]

Used to consider ourselves middle class, but not anymore. I can't afford to take my kids out to DQ and still fill the gas tank. Sadly the prices of things continue to rise as products are downsized and even less of a value.
I teach in NY State, fifteen years and two Master's Degrees as well. I have yet to hit $50 K....it is very location based as far as salaries. I am not whining about my salary, the job I chose is the right job for me, I love what I do. I always knew I would never get rich teaching and it is a choice I made.

 

[ilovemk76]

Used to consider ourselves middle class, but not anymore. I can't afford to take my kids out to DQ and still fill the gas tank. Sadly the prices of things continue to rise as products are downsized and even less of a value.
I teach in NY State, fifteen years and two Master's Degrees as well. I have yet to hit $50 K....it is very location based as far as salaries. I am not whining about my salary, the job I chose is the right job for me, I love what I do. I always knew I would never get rich teaching and it is a choice I made.

That statement is not true. You can't afford to visit WDW (per your signature), take the kids to DQ and fill your gas tank. If you did not go to WDW you could afford taking the kids to DQ and to fill your gas tank.

We all make choices how we spend our money. I can't to to WDW and do X but I could do WDW or X. I have to choose.

 

[tennisfan]

Also was going to ask the poster from England if so much of their tax is being used for their "free health care"?

Our tax doesn't go towards the health care, we also pay another thing like a tax called National Insurance which goes towards health care, benefits & public pensions etc. You have to earn over a certain amount to pay this. In theory if you don't earn over the threshold in by the time you reach pension age you will only be entitled to the basic pension. The more you contribute the more you can get.

Our income tax rates are 20% 40% & 50% depending on what you earn. The 50% tax for people who earn over £150K is being considered for scrapping as its not making much income (people are having off shore accounts).

We all get personal allowence for tax too which is about £8K so we can earn upto that & not pay tax, anything over will be taxed.

We have lots of taxes. Income tax- where we as a family pay 25-45% of our earnings. We also have national insurance which is also a lot of money. This supposedly goes towards the NHS (national health service) but the truth is it all goes towards completely different things, like social security benefits and schools, as well as healthcare. We also pay a huge amount on fuel tax- probably close to $600 a month. We also have VAT of 20% on most things.

We have lots of taxes people call 'sin taxes' where the government claims they are taxing you because you are damaging the environment. So that includes driving cars, fuel for your car, airplane journeys, cigarettes, etc.

We also have to pay something like 40% tax on any bonuses we earn. Money you inherit from passed away relatives is also taxed a huge amount.

I would not want to add up how much my family pays overall in tax because it would make me feel sick lol.

I watched a programme the other day about how your tax money is spent. Turns out that someone earning what my family earns- pays in three times more than they get back in services, healthcare, etc. So for every $3000 we pay in, we only get $1000 worth of services back.

I don't think you could really work out how much tax we pay in gets spent on healthcare because it isn't a 'fair' system so to speak. A majority of the tax we pay goes towards other people's healthcare and services, and social security benefits.

The free healthcare works out GREAT for those who pay little or no tax, but for middle class families, it is a bit of a rip off. In addition the waits are absurd- when I had a kidney problem I had to wait four months just to get an appointment at hospital. I then needed to wait another three months to get another appointment to get medication to control my problem. So overall it took me 7 months- over half a year- to get the help I needed and went through agony in the meantime.

We are debating getting private healthcare insurance because you get seen in a matter of days or a week or two. The NHS drives me crazy. It is also in massive debt and keeps cutting back- making it even worse for patients. Two things make it even worse- a growing population of of obesity and also more people coming from eastern Europe, who are also entitled to it. There's just not enough money.

To the person that mentioned 50% tax- only the extremely well off pay that amount. Most people pay nowhere near to that amount.

You only pay inheritence tax if you inherit over £350K which not many will reach that & they can buy a policy in advance to cover the tax.

Being taxed on bonus' will rectify itself once it realises its not a regular income unless you exceed the threshold.

I work for the NHS too in the ambulance service & I think half the problem is that we have far too many managers (who earn silly money) & clerical people which many positions are not required.

Also in regard to health care, yes prescriptions are costly but that is only a small amount to what the drug actually costs.

I think all countries have their pros & cons. I for one would not want to pay $700+ a month for health insurance.

 

[DisneygirlTeacher]

Everything is so high it makes me sad. Also, most teachers don't make $90 or even $60 a year. Ours here in Florida start at $36,000 and we haven't had a raise in 5 years. Everything costs more and we get less and less. I agree with the OP that many, many teachers (and other professions), work two jobs just to make it. Those that do are so tired the next day I wonder how they even do their day job. Hard days we are living in.

 

[Zuzu03]

You are misinterpreting what I said. It is not the fact that America is questioned. I believe that some things are done better in other countries.

Now if you are from another country you most likely come here and get duel citizenship which means you are welcome back there at any time. This is not true if you move to other countries from America. If you move to America and want to complain about it and say you miss something about your old country the truth is that they have a choice to go back to that country if you like.

The way I interpreted what the poster said was actually critisizing Canada and having to wait for non life threatening healthcare there which if not paying cash in America is also true. I also interpreted her as complaining that America helps make sure the young people here get good health care no matter what their parents income, by either making it low cost or sometimes free, and claimed that was why her premiums went up. This makes her mad enough to have to hold her tongue when a child in her class said he was grateful for it. Her thinking that is why her premiums went up is a good excuse but not the whole reason. She said she missed one country she used to live in as well. Saying her old countries would welcome her back was not meant as an insult but stating fact. If you want to complain about how your current job does things you and then say how your old job had it's faults but you miss it there you also have the choice to quit and go back to the old job, right? No different and no insecurity in that so why would there be in the other statement? "get out" was never used. I was just stating a choice she had.

I"m going to say a couple more things, then I'm done.

I wasn't criticizing Canada - it was actually the NHS in UK. No it wasn't life threatening, but urgent nonetheless. He was rapidly losing his sight. That happens, he doesn't work. He doesn't work, he doesn't get paid. He doesn't get paid his family of 7 goes on the dole - ie more strain on an already strained system.

The student was boasting about her family's use of several of the social programs here in Vermont and saying how they receive many things "free." I was just saying here that nothing is "free", someone is paying for it somewhere. However, I didn't say it to her - mad? No, not mad, just frustrated when I hear that they're having lobster and steaks using their EBT card and we don't have meat but a few times a month because it's just too expensive. I know that family very well, have known them for years. She's also boasted how her unemployed parents receive huge tax refunds every year, over $5,000 this year. ??? And the reality is that my healthcare premiums went up a lot in 1 year, but our salaries did not. The pinch is getting tighter and tighter.

Finally, not exactly true about being "welcomed back" to the country from which you come. I am a U.S. naturalized citizen. That means that I have given up the right to dual citizenship. In fact as of the early 1970's you can't hold dual citizenship between the U.S. and Canada unless you have a very good reason. I'm not complaining about living in the US; I love my adopted country and will also protect it fiercely if ever called upon. If any of those things I said offend anyone - I'm sorry. This is a thread about how prices are out of control. I was just adding my experiences to that.

 

[DOREEN1779]

For $350,000 in Central Jersey, you get a 3 bedroom split built in the 1960's. Along with this you get a $10,000 tax bill. At least you can still get a decent pizza for $9.00 on a Tuesday

 

[nunzia]

For $350,000 in Central Jersey, you get a 3 bedroom split built in the 1960's. Along with this you get a $10,000 tax bill. At least you can still get a decent pizza for $9.00 on a Tuesday

...what..you don't have Little Ceasers $5.00 pizza? I am still in shock at the property taxes around the country. Just shocking.

 

[mrsap]

Oh, I didn't even mention the insane taxes here. My sister lives 10 minutes from me and pays $20K a year. My bil, lived close by and was paying $26K a year. The taxes are high because our teachers and police get paid very well around here. Most police officers make around $120/year and teachers are mostly $70-80K and alot even higher if they have alot of years into the job. Don't know how long people can pay these amounts of money.

It makes me so upset when people complain about how much cops make! What do you do for a living? Are you required to wear a GUN and BULLET PROOF VEST to work every day?! Do you go to work wondering if you'll get to go home to your family at the end of your shift?! If not, then I beg you to consider what I just wrote. IMO they don't make enough!

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

It makes me so upset when people complain about how much cops make! What do you do for a living? Are you required to wear a GUN and BULLET PROOF VEST to work every day?! Do you go to work wondering if you'll get to go home to your family at the end of your shift?! If not, then I beg you to consider what I just wrote. IMO they don't make enough!

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. My husband has 16 years in the military and people think we're rich too. It doesn't bother me. We're very comfortable for this craptastic economy. I won't go into all the things he's missed because of it. It's a choice. It's his job and we just feel blessed that he has a job and good insurance.

 

[mrsap]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. My husband has 16 years in the military and people think we're rich too. It doesn't bother me. We're very comfortable for this craptastic economy. I won't go into all the things he's missed because of it. It's a choice. It's his job and we just feel blessed that he has a job and good insurance.

It doesn't effect me either way about people thinking someone is rich or not... It's considering what they are doing for a living and the pay that accompanies their job! Someone risking their lives for others deserve a higher salary. That's my opinion.

 

[ilovemk76]

It doesn't effect me either way about people thinking someone is rich or not... It's considering what they are doing for a living and the pay that accompanies their job! Someone risking their lives for others deserve a higher salary. That's my opinion.

The problem is more the benefits after 20 years of service that is the problem. Add to the that rule you get the average of your last X, many times this is 5, years salary and OT for life. They can make a higher retirement income than their original yearly salary and work a second full time job too. Many times it is another government job. This is know as double dipping.

20 years maybe long enough in a dangerous job, but you should not collect your retirement until retirement age and it should not be based on your OT. Basically not double dipping during your income earning and retirement years.

 

[mrsap]

The problem is more the benefits after 20 years of service that is the problem. Add to the that rule you get the average of your last X, many times this is 5, years salary and OT for life. They can make a higher retirement income than their original yearly salary and work a second full time job too. Many times it is another government job. This is know as double dipping.

20 years maybe long enough in a dangerous job, but you should not collect your retirement until retirement age and it should not be based on your OT. Basically not double dipping during your income earning and retirement years.

Not sure where you get your info from but police pensions (at least in NJ) do NOT include OT!!!! Also, the cops contribute 10% to their pensions and the state of NJ has not matched that in 15 years!

 

[granmanh603]

Not sure where you get your info from but police pensions (at least in NJ) do NOT include OT!!!! Also, the cops contribute 10% to their pensions and the state of NJ has not matched that in 15 years!

WOW a whole 10%, and they chose that job to strap on a gun,
My husband was self employed and paid into SS and paid in 100% to anything we could put into retirement, and 100% of our medical insurance, what you could get or afford, most of the time it was with a $10,000 yearly deductible and not paying the reduced dr fee we paid what the Dr charged...like just a regular visit was $150 we paid that not the $50 that the your insurance company agreed to pay and no one give us any pension after 20, 30 or 40 years of working, and 40 was the amount of years working to retire
Oh and it was my taxes that pay for the teachers and police officers salary and pension.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

The problem is more the benefits after 20 years of service that is the problem. Add to the that rule you get the average of your last X, many times this is 5, years salary and OT for life. They can make a higher retirement income than their original yearly salary and work a second full time job too. Many times it is another government job. This is know as double dipping.

20 years maybe long enough in a dangerous job, but you should not collect your retirement until retirement age and it should not be based on your OT. Basically not double dipping during your income earning and retirement years.

Yet again. Everyone chooses. Military gets half of base pay (which excludes a large portion of my husbands pay) at 20 years and up to 75% if they stay to 30 years. So yes, my husband can get out of the military at 38 years old, collect a pension check of about $1300/month after taxes and have another career. But so could anyone else. People choose their careers. My husband chose a dangerous one with average pay and good benefits. Life is about choices. He could get out now and make twice as much but the retirement would in no way be as good so he's sticking it out for a while.

I still don't care if people complain my husband makes too much and are jealous of his retirement. They could have the same if they chose it and made the same sacrifices. Oh, and we pay taxes too.

 

[patsal]

WOW a whole 10%, and they chose that job to strap on a gun,
My husband was self employed and paid into SS and paid in 100% to anything we could put into retirement, and 100% of our medical insurance, what you could get or afford, most of the time it was with a $10,000 yearly deductible and not paying the reduced dr fee we paid what the Dr charged...like just a regular visit was $150 we paid that not the $50 that the your insurance company agreed to pay and no one give us any pension after 20, 30 or 40 years of working, and 40 was the amount of years working to retire
Oh and it was my taxes that pay for the teachers and police officers salary and pension.

It's a choice and that was the one your DH made.

 

[patsal]

That statement is not true. You can't afford to visit WDW (per your signature), take the kids to DQ and fill your gas tank. If you did not go to WDW you could afford taking the kids to DQ and to fill your gas tank.

We all make choices how we spend our money. I can't to to WDW and do X but I could do WDW or X. I have to choose.

Yup, I prefer to go to wdw for my vacation and as a result of that choice we do not go to DQ, out to eat anywhere, etc. We also do not go to concerts, sports games, the movies, etc. It is always about choices. I'll take the family vacation memories over an ice cream cone anyday. There is such a narrow window of opportunity when kids are young.

 

[DOREEN1779]

...what..you don't have Little Ceasers $5.00 pizza? I am still in shock at the property taxes around the country. Just shocking.

Didn't I say "decent" pizza