Earlier quoted context omitted.
Such as? At that income level you have great health insurance, can still qualify for state schools, maybe childcare? I agree at lower taxes the difference is more stark.
A few things off the top of my head: - Free university education, with a stipend payed to study (so no student loans, no need to save for the kids college fund). - Social security net so you have to save less for that kind of thing. - unemployment benefits, so less need to save for that - No co pay on medical expenses. - cheap and good childcare - good public schools, cheapish private schools
US Social Security is actually very generous with the max pension pay out ($3,300USD per month per person). Lots of American retire with nothing more than their SS pension. SSI is disability insurance if you can't work. You can also qualify for free Medicaid or Medicare if you're poor or can't work due to illness. Once you hit 65 you get very generous healthcare coverage.
Unemployment benefits are very generous. During the 2008 crash they were extended for 2 years at 80% of your normal up to a cap (like $4,000 per month in CA I believe). Even during normal times you can get 26 weeks. Welfare after that.
Medical maybe but in Europe, private insurance isn't uncommon along with premium payments and co-pays. So I wouldn't act like Europe is entirely "free" unless it's like the UK and you stick entirely with the public system. In the US your employer pays much of it, you can get HSA (tax free) money to help with out of pocket. It's a massive paperwork hassle and annoy bureaucracy I'll agree.
Childcare if it's subsidized sure.
The US has plenty of great public schools. Don't let the movies fool you. I lived in a small town in Michigan and the public schools were outstanding and entirely free.
I always chuckle when people say "the US has no safety net" when 50% of our taxes go to "safety net" programs.