There are people here who would kill for a $25.00 University tuition..

As far as health goes, mostly it's paid by our employer and our taxes. We have a new 'premium' introduced last year in Ontario that we have to pay - it's deducted from our paycheques. The government promised 'no new taxes' in order to get elected, and so they called this a 'premium'. The fact that it is collected by the tax department, and is mandatory is apparently not relevant in trying to define it as a 'tax'.

>Norway does provide a lot of "services" to their citizens, but I am not sure if it is worth all that tax. I paid the equivalent of $25 in tuition each semester while I went to the University, the rest of the tuition was paid by tax monies I assume. I like the freedom I have here, if I don't want to pay for health/dental insuranse I don't and it will not come automatically out of my paycheck.
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>The sales tax is Norway is really what think is stange. 27% is nuts (here I pay 5.5%), but all prices include sales tax so you don't really notice it.
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>Einar
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>>But doesn't Norway provide more benefits for its citizens? Not really sure, but I thought they did. Is it worth the cost of the tax burden on the average citizen? If the government took 30-35% of my income for taxes I better get a LOT of free services including medical, dental, free higher education, and no sales tax.
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>>>>Are you kidding? :) Of course we have federal and provincial income tax... Canadians have the distinction of carrying one of the heaviest tax burdens on the planet to support our governments' wasteful...er, social programs!
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>>>I think the Kindom of Norway might have Canada beat when it comes to taxes. I think sales tax is 27% and the income tax is around 30%-35%.
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>>>Einar