--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Mark" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Ya - no brainer lets be like the Dutch. They're so happy that they have one of the highest suicide rates in the world, Actually, male suicide rates are higher in the US (and US has much higher male homicide rates). Female suicide rates about 1/4 of those of male in both countries, is slightly higher in the Netherlands relative to the US. Overall rates are higher in US. http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suiciderates/en/ > and they're so productive that they have one of the lowest GNPs in the world > Well, not really. 17th. And 7 or so of the countries above them are tiny -- So they are in top 10 of countries of "size". About the same level as Canada. Higher than France, Germany, Spain, Austraila, Greece, Portugal, Singapore, Taiwan, italy, Greece, Korea ... http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/infopays/rank/PNBH2.html >for their size mostly because their taxation rate is over 50% Corporate tax rate is 35%, about average, internationally. Lower than France and Germany. Marginal individual tax rates are 60%, high for my taste, but similar to France, Germany, Sweeden, etc. And remember thats the top marginal rate, which only applies to some upper level of income. Its NOT the average rate. Average rates are quite below 50% (your figure). Their marginal rate compares to US 35%, previously 39.5% marginal rate. But with state taxes that can be close to 45% now (50% a pre Bush). But Netherlands has no capital gains tax. And their social service levels are much higher, including health care. And so depending on mix of income to investments, taking indo account US state taxes, and health individually paid health costs, the total tax rates may not be much higher than in US. http://www.accf.org/publications/reports/sr-intcomparisoncap1998.html >and about 1/3 of their population is on the dole. That would imply a 30+% unemployment rate. That certainly is not correct. > Their red-light district is a world-famous haven for drugs of all kinds Actually, they are quite harsh on harder drugs. They made the policy decision to be lax on pot and strict on heroin etc. as well as prostitution Um well what would you expect in a red light district? Prosititution is rampant in the US too. Only its called "Escort Services". At least in Amsterdam, the girls are all tested for diseases once a week, and their is no pimp abuse, or john abuse of working girls. And much less stigma to working in the worlds oldest profession. >including child-prostitution per yor experience? >So ya let's take a lesson frm the Dutch - good times! Yeah, they have some good things to teach us, per unc's stats. So Mark, you are the one who appears to be smoking pot, or is it just because your head is up your ass. :) > ----- Original Message ----- > From: TurquoiseB > To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2005 3:55 AM > Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Animals self-medicate...go figure > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > on 6/25/05 7:54 PM, lurkernomore20002000 at [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > wrote: > > > I know, it would seem logical to legalize pot. But I have heard > > > knowledgeale people on the front lines, with no obvious agenda > > > except to effectively deal with the problem, make a convincing > > > argument that it is a gateway drug. > > > > Maybe it is. But maybe it depends on your personality or level > > of maturity. I think I have or had an addictive personality. As > > a teenager, I "progressed" from alcohol to pot (so maybe alcohol > > is a gateway drug too) to LSD (which I still don't regret) to > > dabbling in heavier things - barbiturates, meth, heroin. Many > > kids I knew became junkies. But kids behave that way. Many college > > kids are binge drinkers. Kids experiment at that age. I know > adults > > who may smoke a joint occasionally, but for them, it is > > clearly not a gateway to anything heavier. > > The bottom line in this debate probably belongs to the > Dutch. In the Netherlands marijuana has been quasi- > legal and freely available for over 30 years. So what > are the statistics for marijuana use in the Netherlands? > > Less than 5% of the population have ever even bothered > to try it. > > Compare and contrast to the US, where in some states > simple possession can land you in jail for a mandatory > ten years. Well over 50% of the population has tried it. > > Seems like a no-brainer to me... > > Unc > > > > > > > To subscribe, send a message to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Or go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ > and click 'Join This Group!' > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS > > a.. Visit your group "FairfieldLife" on the web. > > b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! 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