Ouch! I forgot the VAT! It is a lot higher then our sales tax which varies from 0-10% depending upon where you are in the country at the time. Cigs and Alcohol are hit with what is laughably called "sin" taxes here and petrol has taxes layered on at the state and federal levels to maintain the roads. Looks like our "sin" taxes are nowhere near as high as those in the UK!
- - - Updated - - -
Damn, I thought medical needs were covered in other parts of the world! Sorry you are having to go through such an awful time. I understand your feelings about these things, when you can't contribute, society has a way of making you feel bad about yourself. It doesn't make it true, but it still makes a person feel like boiled crap!
- - - Updated - - -
It's a nice sentiment but I don't see a safety net program like that working in the US as things stand now. Illegal immigrants already put a strain on the US social systems as they are provided government assistance programs event though they aren't even legally supposed to be here. What is even more ridiculous is immigration gives people trying to go the legal route holy hell at being here while turning a blind eye to the poor border crashers.