On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 16:22:27 +0200, "Emmanuel Gustin"
wrote:


Western Europe is a more equalised society.

Which makes everyone equally worse off as a consequence.

Belgians pay more
taxes
and have leass ready money to spend than Americans,

Not surprising given the level of official and unofficial corruption in one
of the worst governed countries in Europe. How long has Marc Dutroux been
on remand awaiting trial for now ? Someone hoping he will die in prison
beforehand perhaps ?


but in Belgium 4% of people lives below the povery line,

And the Black economy in Belgium is gigantic as a consequence. The so
called 'poverty line' is not a valid comparison given its basis is relative
and not absolute. There are 10s if not 100s of thousands in Belgium who
work outside the system and are not in any official figures.


greg
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