NFL Player Inadvertently Shows Why People Are Leaving California

California used to be considered one of the best states in the country, but after many years of Democratic rule, it is now considered one of the worst states to live in.

From @WSJopinion: California leaders are missing in action on the homeless crisis, ruining once-iconic cities. Fixing anticamping, shoplifting and cash-bail laws, plus issuing a border order would help a lot, writes @andykessler. https://t.co/WtPgGKF1aW

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 31, 2023

California has solved many issues we face as a nation, like how tent cities solved the housing crisis.

With his leadership, all of American can look like San Francisco. pic.twitter.com/REiS9ZrFcP

— WokeSwami (@woke_swami) October 29, 2023

Most of the cities in the state are unsafe, there’s rampant drug use, the cost of living is astronomically high, and the streets have been overtaken by the homeless, who have their own “tent cities.”

If these weren’t good enough reasons to move out of the state, San Francisco 49ers’ defensive lineman Arik Armstead inadvertently gave people another reason to stay away from the Golden State.

Armstead, who signed a 5-year, $85 million deal in 2020, wanted to show fans how players in the NFL get paid. But the first thing most people noticed was the amount of taxes taken out of his salary.

In a series of TikTok videos, Armstead broke down one of his paychecks.

For this particular pay period, Armstead earned $393,055. After taxes, that number shrank to $194, 085. That’s 49.3% of his paycheck sent straight to the government.

You read that right, that’s almost HALF of the entire check.

Even though the Videos were posted in September, they didn’t gain a lot of traction in the media until reporter Darren Rovell posted a copy of the check on his X, formerly Twitter, page.

Still enough to live 100 comfortable lifetimes. Crying crocodile tears. @arikarmstead

— Gamer President (@DugInKR) November 4, 2023

As expected, there were a lot of trolls hating on Armstead because he makes more in a week than they do in two or three years.

So he makes more in 1 week playing a game then I’ll make in multiple years working and we’re supposed to feel bad for him, got it

— Mike Hysler (@Hysler) November 3, 2023

Are we suppose to feel bad for him? Slightly out of touch.

— Adam Miller (@ImPhatShady) November 3, 2023

Oh boo hoo man makes more than 80 % of Americans in 1 game

— Doolyn (@DooIyn) November 3, 2023

Even though they have a point, they are missing the bigger picture, which is the fact that the man gives the government half of his hard-earned money.

No one should have to pay half of their income to the government no matter how wealthy. Keep in mind that with whatever he has left, he has to pay taxes on virtually every other transaction he makes. Gas tax, property tax, sales tax, cell phone tax, hotel room tax, alcohol tax,…

— Mark A Boyle (@markboyle0714) November 3, 2023

Taxes are legalized robbery by the government and this is disgusting. Nobody should be giving up 50% of their income to the government. Absolute joke.

— Hasty (@hasty_mcnasty) November 3, 2023

For players like Armstead and others who make millions of dollars, getting taxed that heavily won’t have a big impact on their everyday lives because they make more than enough money to offset it.

But, for the regular Joes, can you imagine trying to support a family making $90,000 to $100,000 per year and giving half of that to the government? Living in a state like California, you would probably end up in one of those tent cities very quickly.