micfire & bobsoap; Very good posts.
You forgot the richest (per capita) of them all, Norway
And the same exact thing can be said about the US or any country for that matter. You guys also have "all kinds of problems" other countries don't have, but so what?. The thing is - ALL countries have their problems. They're sometimes different, sometimes similar. Doesn't make one almightier than another.
When did it become the OUT thing?
AND - why does it always have to be black and white? There are actually countries where socialism can live hand in hand with capitalism you know. Where there aren't poverty, where nobody goes hungry or without healthcare, where very very few go without jobs - yet, where people also can become very wealthy and rich and entrepreneurs can prosper. I live in such a country. The only thing I hate about it is the cold winters - but no politician can change that.
Do the rich get taxed more? Yes - as already has been pointed out; if you wanna get around that, you can. Financial advisors, clever reporting, etc. can cut the taxes so you can still enjoy your hard earned dough.
And in a country where the majority of people live happily, you get VERY low crime. The occasional murder here makes huge headline news - and 9 out of 10 times they are motivated out of jealousy where the criminal knew the victim. Not on random victims out of anger, despair, lust and greed caused by a frustrated people who feel unfairly treated. Again - we only have the types of murders that politics will never be able to change in any country.