We don't understand why you have 20%+ VAT taxes in Europe or the equivalent of $8.00 a gallon gasoline. Your governments must use this money raised in taxation for something ... I would contend that much is used for social benefits that you pay for indirectly.

From what I have seen, including my visits to the Czech Republic (the?LOL), the standard of living here in America I enjoy is at least as good as any place I have seen in Europe so far. However, we spend our money differently here and when I compare the slums of Europe to the slums of America I really don't see that much difference in healthcare access or its quality of the service, notwithstanding that healthcare services may be offered on a more egalitarian basis in many European nations.

The sad part in the United States, and this varies by the individual state's regulations and regulators, if you are an entitlement recipient ( a poor person -- public welfare client), you get full coverage medical insurance, i.e.; Medicaid, and have access to most normal medical care.

All of us taxpayers, according to our own incomes on a progressive basis, pay for these benefits to the "poor."

Where the problem lays is that many "working poor" those in America earning more than $15K per year (11.2K ?) get no welfare benefits or federally funded health benefits now -- that is why Obamacare was enacted. While these working poor pay little income taxes they do pay SE or FICA taxes that can amount to 7% to 13% (appx) of their incomes.

They will get government funded Medicare when they are 65 - 68 years-of-age -- they are paying into that pool while they work.

But meantime, they get the short end of the stick -- their earnings are not sufficient to pay for our healthcare costs here. Generous employers will offer a reasonable cost healthcare insurance to them -- for Business' it is a tax deductible expense in most cases.

For businesses, the problem is that global competitors (read:China and India as well as other players) do not have the costs of healthcare to absorb -- either people in those places die in the streets or receive government universal healthcare.