I live in western Missouri. At $250,000 you can buy a 3 bedroom 2 full bath ranch. That is with an unfinished full basement and large attached 2 car garage. I bet my taxes are much lower than what that couple would have to pay. Living in these high tax states is unfair and the taxes criminal. But you get the government that you vote for.
Vote? You said vote? The wife never bothered to register to vote and has absolutely zero knowledge of the issues or candidates. The husband might be registered to vote (although I wouldn't bet on it) but I know he hasn't voted for a couple of years at least. In NYC, most people don't seem to vote and candidates win simply by belonging to the group who has the most people who bother to show up at the polls.
Only trouble with that is then you are living in W. Missouri. ;-)