Big taxes? How about this. Here in UK, there is VAT (sales tax?) of 17.5% on almost everything. Income tax (on your salary) is 20%, plus something else (National Insurance) about another 10%. Higher earners get 40% tax, plus the national insurance. SO, I earn 100 $, I see maybe 70 $ in my wage packet, I buy something costing 70 $, they take another 12.25 in tax. So my 100 $ has bought 57.75 $ in goods.

Another one: I'm currently in the market for a new house. I get taxed 3% of the purchase price for a 400 K dollar house (not much these days), whammo.

Not to mention all the g0ddamn lawyers/real-estate guys with their hands in my pocket during the process (apologies to all you g0ddamn lawyers).