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Not only is the tax burden higher, but what you get for it, especially in terms of schools, has dropped through the floor. I live in a very affluent area, where per student spending in our public school district has just topped $20,000 per year. One of the new expenses tacked onto this budget was the hiring of a new high school principal while continuing disability payments to the last one -- who's been out of work for several months after not completely successful back surgery to repair damage caused by an attacking student. I'm paying plenty for these hopeless schools, but have too much sense to have children before I can be absolutely assured of the financial means to keep them either in private school or homeschooled. Homeschooling means no income for me, and private schools run around $20,000 a year per student in this area, so two kids is $40,000/year, but due to income taxes, that means $60,000/year of income is out the door. It's WAY past time for all states to enact voucher systems that give the full per student spending amount to be used at any school. Then watch the baby boom take off.

I'm paying plenty for these hopeless schools, but have too much sense to have children before I can be absolutely assured of the financial means to keep them either in private school or homeschooled.

Give yourself more credit. It's amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it. Kids are wealth and joy and hope.