[Ed_in_NJ]

None of the figures ('cause nobody's counting) reflect the fulltime hi-tech worker who was earning $100K that is now a fulltime hi-tech worker who is earning $50K.

[FITZ]

Who makes up the difference in taxes that hi-tech employee was paying? At $50,000 that employee is getting dangerously close to the level where he can obtain government programs like CHIP and food stamps. He's not going to be paying nearly as much taxes ---but if his wage drops much more he qualifies for the handouts.