[sampo]

> You pay an extraordinary amount of taxes for the 'free' education.

I once made a rough comparison, in the 60k–100k yearly salary range, for tax rates between Finland and California. As far as I remember, they were quite similar.

Just, in Finland you get (almost) free education, (almost) free health care, better public transportation and worse national defense.

I'd be happy to do this again, if you (or someone) provide the California numbers, I'll do Finland.

[Cshelton]

Yes yes...Finland and California are the same everything. So interchangeable that one could live in CA or Finland and have the same life style....no. Cost != value. On that though...worse national defense...you realize the US has the largest armed militia in the world...the people. Good luck with Russia!