At one time when Florida was relativity cheap to live in, he made about 30% more in income than I did. When we compared cost of living, housing, all taxes. I actually was a little better off.
The Democrats would prefer to turn the US into a model of socialized Europe. Their plan was to force gasoline to punishing high prices which over time would incent the people to move back into the cities, use public transportation, give up the automobile, etc. The drastic drop in oil prices has thrown them off track, for a while.