A more formidable reciprocity challenge involves firmly grasping what has been termed the “third rail” of American politics and making radical changes in our tax code, in the interest of having everyone pay a fair share of the cost for having a fair society. (Some of the many reform options are discussed in my book.) This would also include significant tax increases, despite the strong political opposition to the idea. The fact is that our tax burden is currently the lowest by far of any industrialized nation. In 2012, according to the authoritative CIA World Fact Book, our taxes (including Social Security and Medicare) amounted to 22% of our Gross Domestic Product. This compares with, among others, 40.4% for the United Kingdom, 45.1% for Germany, 46.3% for the Netherlands, 51.3% for Sweden, 51.9% for France, and 55.9% for Denmark. Even Canada ranks well ahead of us at 37.5%. Not surprisingly, every one of these nations has a smaller income disparity and better health statistics and life expectancy than we do.
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