Anybody who has been in Germany and in poor US states can see the difference with his or her own eyes.

Also I have many friends and relatives in Germany who sometimes wrote me on their budget topics.
It is enormous sum they are saving in comparison to what I am paying (especially for children from day care to college graduation).

Taking in account that in California with its high state and municipal taxes I am paying practically the same combine tax rate as people in Germany, I would say "American high income" is a phantom..