⌛ US Bashing?

I love Dumaguete City! And we will be moving there as soon as we can. I have lived in Alaska for over 32 years and can on longer because it is a part of the u.s. OF a. I am not Filipino or any other nationality but there has been a lot of times I wish I could say that "I am NOT an american!" I was born here into poverty and spent the first 40 years of my life living in poverty. Right now our property tax is about $6,000.00 a year or about 23,000 PHP a month. I do not consider America a democratic society. I have been told to love it or leave it. So Dumaguete here we come.

My 2 ¢ because that is all that is left after taxes!

Jim

 

Don't be too hard on the US, 'cause the same thing is happening throughout Canada and Europe too.

I got land taxed off of Vancouver Island [Salt Spring Island] almost ten years ago.
It's "the carrot or the stick" --'the carrot' is cashing-out by selling into an inflated market to folks with more money than brains.
Ironicly, these folks are often relocating 'cause they were in the same money trap in their old local.
So..., once you sell and pick up stakes, you'll be the shmuck driving up prices where-ever it is you plan to escape to...., Shall we say it's a vicious cycle?

"The stick" is ever increasing property taxes, and shorter reassement periods.
Plus, the the new folks are gonna demand all new shiney infrastructure and new by-laws to reflect "the upwardly affluent life-style" they require and expect.

Sound familiar? Same story in Euro-land..., local people can't afford to live in the towns they grew-up in.

"Who's gonna bag my groceries?", the rich lament, as the working-class kids move away in droves because a $10/hrs job can't rent a closet.

Poverty? Like on the rez? I lived up North [east of Fort St. John] Yeah, we didn't have power for along time, no running water for a longer time..., too much Moose meat.

Poor..., yeah, but we weren't in debt..., always paid cash.

I think you know what i'm talkin' about.

On the plus side, Northerners are a careful, patient lot --or you would've froze to death long ago.

Still got all your fingers & toes, right?

So life ain't so bad, eh?

On another note. Hate to break this to ya, but, the IRS still wants you to file taxes no matter where in the world you live. So do some tax planning before you move/spend large amounts. Have a plan.

Best of luck, keep your oulo sharp & powder dry,

chris

 

Chris...good post! Grandpainak you're buggered...but actually you're not. I'm a huge fan of AK, love it there - most spectacular place on the planet, and silly me..I know if you're an Alaskan resident...you don't pay state income tax, unlike most of the lower 48, or state sales tax, unlike most of the lower 48, but - depending on where you live...you might be paying a local sales tax on some items. Also, let's not forget the Provident Fund....you'd be getting around $1000 a year per person from all that lovely oil revenue. Nice if you can get it....but only Alaskan residents can.

Good whinge though...I'll give you an 'A'.....but if you like taxes come on down to Australia....UK will put a bigger smile on your face too.

PS...don't catch all the fish in the Chena and Tanana rivers....I'll likely be after trout and grayling next trip...If I don't catch any - my kabayan will grumble...

 

No don't come to the U.K you will have a heart attack. when you see the taxes.
Jim

 

LOL...Jim...I was being tongue-in-cheek....we are so stuffed with taxes. The only saving grace is we have very reasonable (but not great) free medical treatment. If I was living in America I don't think I could sleep knowing how disastrous medical care can be on my finances...Maybe someday Americans will realize how robbed they are by the medical establishment. A few percent extra in taxes and they're covered for all their ailments...it isn't rocket science...

Not like I don't know...I worked there for a few years. Wonderful people everywhere I went...pity their government treats them like serfs...

 

How would you go on in RP, health insurance, can you get coved over there.
I might be retireing one day in dumaguete

 

Certainly zero for Australians, and the same for UK citizens...We're moving to Bacolod and using Blue Cross (for a substantial annual fee). None of the Dumaguete hospitals take the Blue Cross card for payment...one in Bacolod does (I've been there...it's ok...but not Oz or UK standard for sure)..Cebu has a few...Luzon (particularly Manila) has several and a few of them are very good.

We've discussed this extensively. We'll pay Blue Cross Philippines and hope it goes well for things that come up. Currently both in very good health. But if it gets too hard or serious, it is back to Oz.....Looking at a 5 - 10 year window to enjoy life in the Philippines while we can and then return home.

 

ooops...before I forget...Grandpainak...you're paying $6000 a year for taxes on your place. I know Alaskans get pretty good value for the taxes they pay...costs heaps for those snow-plows for example..and they do a great job keeping roads clear. Here in Perth I'd be paying almost exactly $1000 US for a 800 sqm property in an ordinary suburb. However, most Alaskans are living on about .5 - 2 acres (I assume in rural AK you'd be about the same)....you do the calcs....you are getting a bargain!

Maaaate....you're doing fine...quit whinging!!!....Wait till you move to Dumaguete...pay a little bit in taxes - and get absolutely nothing for your taxes....They haven't quite figured out yet how to pay and collect taxes - and keep a zillion fingers out of it before it does some good. They'll get there, probably sooner than we think...

 

"The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money."

-Alexis de Tocqueville

The U.S. is not the republic it started out as. We are producing generations that grow up believing the society and/or government should provide for them. This is a far cry from the idea of "fierce independence" and is mearly a form of redistribution of wealth.
Anyone recall who wrote extensively on that subject? Starts with a K, ends with an X....

Anyway, moving to the Philippines does not get you escape from taxation, but can be much less expensive for overall living expenses. The RP does have a 12% VAT after all and GMA is making progress collecting all the taxes that the government has levied. One thing for sure, you will have to rely much more on yourself because the government services so convenient here in the States are few and far between in the Philippines.

 

Well, that K....X dude was a little extreme....But I do believe that taxes should be used for the betterment of citizens. It may often be a redistribution of wealth...but so be it...the rich should help the poor...and all should have access to basic functions of just societies...ie law and order, medical treatment, education etc. Look at the Philippines for example...I've known a few comparatively wealthy Filipinos who bribed their way out of income tax with a $100 bill and a bottle of Johnny Walker. Easy as that....And what good have they done for their society? It's all a big joke for the rich there...

Fierce independence went out of fashion here amost a hundred years ago and will likely go the same way in the US soon enough....People will wake up and expect something for their hard-earned taxes, besides trying to keep dumb Iraqis from killing each other.