actually around 33% of my check goes bye-bye before I even see it...the govmint thinks you are rich if you make more than 30k...and if you add to that sales tax at over 7% here in California, well then looky there...we don't have the VATs and such but we have property taxes, etc...They tax the crap out of me because I am single, don't have dependents and don't own real estate, yet have a good job. There are probably whole trailer parks full of welfare mothers who are thanking me right now, as they light up a cigarette paid for by food stamps...at least the "average joe" gets some benefit over there, or do they?