Your story really resonates with me since I live in the ultimate tax-and-spend, welfare-based, business-averse state of California. As a result, we are currently in one of the worst budget crises in U.S. history!

Regarding Penn. having a lower unemployment figure than Florida, that simply is due to Florida being such a high growth state for so many years. People were flocking to Florida by the millions, while Pennsylvania's population was largely stagnant. Florida also had tons of construction jobs to fill during the real estate boom as well. Thus, its only natural that Florida would get hit so hard by this. Simply put, the fast growth states like Florida and Georgia naturally are going to crash harder than more stagnant states like Penn. and Ohio.

I liked the comment regarding high tax vs. low tax countries---dead on. The U.S. currently has the 2nd highest corporate tax rate in the world (only Japan is higher), and to make matters worse the politicians are talking about raising them even higher. Basically, the government continues to raise taxes, then turn around and wonder why companies are moving jobs oversees (and loudly complain about it). Quite amazing, isn't it? Overall, I'm an optimist by heart, but we are in for some rough times ahead, thanks to both the GOP and dems. Obama's socialist policies (actually fascist is more accurate) simply will only make things worse. GWB wasn't much better.

The booming 90's and early-mid 2000's are already becoming a distant memory in which we lived in ignorant bliss and really didn't know just how good we had it. Those days are long gone and I'm not sure when such days will return again, if at all.

Interesting facts. Some things I'd like answered though is why Florida where I live now has an unemployment rate of 10% while PA where I moved from is at 8%. Taxes are higher in PA and lower in Florida, though you ask a Floridian you'd think they paid 90% of there income in taxes. I figure my total tax (federal state local), including sales tax is about 22% here(FL) and about 28% in PA. Income tax is just dumb and so are all these "fees" (taxes) they now impose instead of just adjusting the sales tax which is a consumption tax and if you don't spend money on stuff you pay less in taxes. We need to decide exactly what we want the government to provide or subsidize and expect to pay the rest. Also remember that is the governement collect exactly the same dollar amount every year the amount of services they can provide decreases by the rate of inflation. Just some thoughts.

It is outragious that rotten small business entrepreneurs would avoid taxes. This country was built on being fair to all...not avoiding civic responsibilities to our fellow man.

The only REAL way to overcome our government going bankrupt from tax avoidance is the following:
1) Tax all non-minorities at a higher tax rate than minorities...a long needed extension of life-giving affirmative action. It is a well-known fact that non-minorities make higher incomes than minorities.
2) Tax all homophobes at a higher rate too. CNN found that Homophobia is the biggest crisis this free nation is facing (next to abortion) and higher taxes and government control can eliminate this.
3) All people found avoiding excessively high tax states should be put in government controlled prisons...forever. Dam*** traitors!

People hiding and protecting tax avoiding non-minorities, homophobes, and greedy entrepreneurs should also be put into government controlled labor prisons. This labor from criminals could reduce the costs of government made goods....like cars...and help us compete with China and Japan)! Its win-win for all (Except the criminals of course...hahaha)

I just hope our couragious bankers and politicians can get this passed before its too late.

Only then can this country truly be what our founders intended...FAIR and just to all.

Lets take N.Y and California, esp N.Y.C. they have taxed those people into poverty, they will not only pay a state income tax but a city income tax too, along with all the other taxes they pay. Many realiaze now the sun doesn't rise and set on N.Y. City. I know many that are just STUCK there. Many make a high gross but when all the taxes are taken out, it is cut way down. Even Wall Street wanted to leave the city, but they cut a deal with them to stay. Just think where would N.Y.C. be without Wall Street.

due to the extremely progressive nature of state income taxes and the fact that a very small percentage of taxpayers in a state pay a high percentage of the personal state income tax, people will move to low or no income tax states. And it is precisely these people, the high income people that have the means to move as they either generate high passive type income (interest, dividends or capital gains) or their job allows them to live anywhere. And once they move their tax bill moves with them.
Same goes for business income. In alot of instances, a business can have nexus (business presence) in any state they want as their product or service can be delivered from anywhere without regard to borders without creating nexus (tax liability) in a high tax state. Brick and mortor manufacturers are a dying lot and even they are being driven out of high tax states like california, new york, etc. the politicians need to wake up, but i doubt they will. california especially is a lost cause.