Hi tracy,

>Hi Walter, thanks for the honest answers. It appears that Bush may win again, but surprisingly, polls (probably all wrong anyway) show that he is winning due to morality issues and not the war or the economy. Very intersting. Personally, I have no problem with gay marriage - it takes no rights away from me and does not affect me in anyway. I have no problem with stem cell research and I believe abortion is an issue between a woman and her God. That could start an active debate I'm sure.

I think we are on the same line with this.

>I am curious though because of the difference in taxes paid in your country and here in the U.S. what the difference in the living standard would be for two people in the same field.

I tend to think the living standard is higher up here, but I cannot not backup this with any fact. You send me a link comapring European countries with the US. I think you can derive much information from there. However the link is pretty old (13 years or so), but it will give you a basic idea how european societies are very different from the US, how they are build up etc, but doing equally well or even better.

>For instance, for the average computer programmer over there, what is a typical salary? Admittedly, here you can make more in more metropolitan areas than in some areas where the positions are not as many so there is less competition, etc. Lets figure average. Of that salary, what is his/her average NET take home pay? How much is taken out for retirement/401K, flexible benefits, etc. Is it different if he/she is married or has children or owns a home? How much of that salary typically goes for rent/house payment? Transportation costs (does everyone typically own a car or use mass transit)? Food? How many paid days off a year does he/she get? How many hours a week does he/she typically work (Here programmers - unlike typical workers - can work more hours than 40 a week and hence if no overtime pay and they are pure salary then that would actually lower their real income rate)? I'm wondering what the general difference in living conditions would be between Holland and the U.S.
>Assuming he/she has no serious medical problems, is the living standard equal?

Al lot of questions I could not possible answer. Again I think we should look at some statistics to draw conclusions.

Walter,