also it's not how much you make it's how much you keep. the u.s., state and local govts rip me off every which way they can. capital gains tax to the fed, capital gains to the state and yes even capital gains to the city/locality. oh yeah my property taxes are > 5k/ yr and climbing. this country is squeezing tax payers so hard i am really getting pissed and none of the lawmakers seem to give a hoot. even if they pass a fed tax cut, e.g. on dividends, the state and localities are hiking to offset. the have nots get the same 1 vote per person as the haves, and congressmen pander to all voters not just the ones with money. taxes aside, the quality of life in the u.s has deteriorated substantially, esp. in heavily populated areas. people are edgy, mean, roads are always jammed, boom-boxes pound away at your sanity. personally, you can have it. it's all going down the shitter anyway.