Quote from gnome:
...State income taxes are on top of the federal income tax, which currently tops out at 35%, as well as payroll taxes (contributions to Social Security and Medicare). Therefore, the maximum total rate is 35% of income in the states of Florida, Texas, and Washington, but 44.5% of income in Vermont and 45.3% in California[2]..." --- Wikipedia
Notice California. Not a high tax state?
I'm sorry my friend, but your LOGIC is so twisted and convoluted regarding this example that I'm going to pass on spending the time and effort to show how failed it is.
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/taxesbystate2005/index.html