The taxes in Germany have already been that high for the past 40+ years. It has nothing to do with the immediate situation.
Economically, this was the most stupid thing to do.
As stupid as shutting down all the nuclear power plants.
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Yeah, lol, that seems funny. I remember Austriaās constant bitching about our power plants, yet they know nothing about how it works.
But that may be hard to say. If Russia gets lots of income, that means higher chance of taking all of Ukraine, then other countries may be next. After some time, it may start costing much more when resurgent Russians start banging on the Polandās and Balticsā doors.
Then ig, the development of the Eastern Germany? 
Meanwhile actual share of taxes on labor and business is higher in Russia than in Germany.
That economic independence was right move, USSR executed an enormous project of supplying Europe with natural gas (for its own motives, you might say to secure an extremely strong tie with Europe and stop possible confrontations in future), since its fall remaining āgoverningā companies acted like literal parasites over the pipeline without reinvesting nearly enough to maintain it. Siberian pipeline to China was barely opened with great delays and China asked for discounts not just because they strongarm on every possible occasion (everyone does in energy business).
Although itās hard to name it independence from Germany side as post-USSR countries were highly dependent on Germany to the state of āaddictionā, without China taking over so many technological imports all Eastern Europe would be German-mostly market. So Germany likely doesnāt have a choice either, itās a natural process in it being outcompeted by China, which is simply bigger and has so much larger population and industrial potential.
Out of the two, NATO and Russia, NATO is by far the bigger aggressor.
Since the NATO is 80% US controlled, Europe does what the US wants, which is aimed at keeping the Russian economy down.
The worst thing that can happen to the US economy is the unification of the European, the Russian and the Chinese economy.
This would almost instantly make the Petro Dollar and the Dollar as the World Reseve Currency obsolete.
Germany is doing politics fully as demanded by the US military industrial complex. Proof: US secret services blew up the German Nordstream 2 pipeline, yet no German politician dares to ask questions.
Imagine Russian military bases in Mexico.
How would the US react?
Well if you look at the map, Russia has been surrounded by US and NATO military bases for decades.
Think about it.
Ukrainians sealed their own fate when they voted for a fascist government, that was also US controlled in 2014.
Same thing that happened in Gaza when Palestinians voted for Hamas in 2006. Please see the quote from Thomas Jefferson above.
The main reason, why Russia attacked in 2022, and this is something which almost no NATO news channel ever speaks about, is when the Ukraine fascist government decided to terminate the Minsk 2 Treaty.
This treaty was Russiaās guarantee that Ukraine will not posses any nuclear weapons.
Three days after Ukraine terminated that treaty, this has caused a national treath to Russia on a nuclear level, this is why they invaded.
Imagine if Mexico would terminate their treatment for the non-possesion of nuclear arms. The US would invade Mexico within a few hoursā¦
Sorry mate, but thatās NATO propaganda.
Russia is not interested in European territory.
They wonāt keep Ukraine either (except for those 4 Russian speaking territories).
Once they take Ukraine (or make a deal with Trump), Ukraine will become a neutral non-nuclear puffer state again.
I am telling this you as someone who watches news from US, Germany and Russia.
Of course, every side is lying, but NATO is the far bigger liar.
Do not underestimate the American think tank and marketing machine.
The US is Number 1 at marketing!
Yeah, I was thinking about moving to Czech or Bulgaria where the taxes are much lower. But then I would need to learn the local languagesā¦
Income tax in Russia is capped at 15%.
In Germany at 45%ā¦ 
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Income tax, yes, total āpackageā is different and it matters. On business taxes in Russia are higher and personal arenāt lower. I need to find a newer report but quickly Paying Taxes 2020: In-depth analysis on tax systems in 190 economies: PwC
Itās a common strawman in different countries used by politicians to compare only a specific tax, while omitting all of them
I have friends in Russia who work normal jobs.
And with that, they can afford raising children, having a car, paying of mortgage and going on beach vacation 2x per year.
Most Germans, and neither Americans, can do that with their regular income.
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Really, what sort of ānormalā job? Also you need to compare quality of life: medicine there, quality of infrastructure, quality of education outside of select schools that are always pressed by municipal politicians because they make other underfunded schools look bad, quality of food, quality of housing.
I agree, I am always comparing total taxes for private person and total taxes for having a business.
In Germany most business are taxed into oblivion, thatās why most people donāt even start one and those that exist are not so profitable in the first place. They only survive because of āGerman Efficiencyā, but in general German companies do not make that much profit and thatās why most German stocks suck and pay lousy dividends.
One works as bureaucrat in a bank.
Two are small business owners.
Two others work as technical sales reps in software companies.
Yes, I fully agree.
For now, on average, life quality is still better in Europe.
However, education in Russia is far better than in Germany already.
There is a huge upwards momentum in Russia, while Germany has been in decline for the last 20 years.
So in 15-20 years, quality of life may become better in Russia than in Germany.
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In Russia:
Income tax: 15%
Medicine: 5.1%, actual quality is lousy, because itās chronically underfunded and corrupted for 30 years, people who can afford often pay out of pocket.
Pension tax: 22%, officialy āfrozenā money by government to be literally taken away from people, they arenāt even serving to fulfill oneās pension paper, i.e. this is just real part of income tax.
These are the bigger ones, that all in reality act as true Income Tax.
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Education in Russia is another myth, its quality is declining and was declining steadily.
Corporate tax rate in Russia is 20%.
Almost 30% in Germanyā¦
There are other taxes in Russia on business as well. China would outcompete it without even trying.
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I disagree. The children of my friends in Russia know much more things at their age than German kids do.
The only good thing about the German education is the heavy focus on English language. However, these days, most kids learn English from computer games and social media anyways, than learning it from school.
And most German adults donāt even know how to calculate basic percentagesā¦ 
Yes, there are still bribes in many placesā¦
Your friends are far from average then, I have seen average children in Russia, as I was born in it. These are illusions.
Also inflation, even if calculated through official estimates is much worse in Russia and if we compare ārealā inflation in Russia and Germany, the Russian will be still times higher, this is for decades.
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Yes, these are likely not average, bank employee can be a really good position. Business owners are a small percentage of population. Software companies have some unique benefits in developing economies, especially in post-USSR countries.
VAT is slightly higher in Russia both, standard is 20% and reduced is 10%.
It becomes better for people earning more, but for comparison this will be top 1% in a literal sense, actually AFAIK less than 0.5% get income higher than 4-5k euro per month, itās officially published government stats.
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Artificial intelligence is not an art form. Most of their material consists of copyrighted art from stock photography markets. I have been involved in stock photography for many years. This is one of the reasons some stock agencies strictly avoid AI generated images and videos.
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