The American Dream does not come cheap. It requires "access to success" which relies on knowledge, skill, can do attitude and productive habits (you have to go out and get it). It also helps if your country sits on land that produces almost everything you need without having to go elsewhere. The USA could be the most successful nation on earth yet in some areas it is underachieving. When it comes to GDP per capita there are some countries that are doing significantly (and surprisingly) better. Here are those GDP figures for comparison (sources may not be scientifically accurate but hopefully at least consistently inaccurate). Which do you find surprising?

In 1916, the Canadian government introduced a corporation tax to aid in the cost of WW1. To further finance the war, in 1917, a "temporary" Income Tax was initiated, which included both a corporate and a new personal income tax. As we know, these taxes didn't disappear after the war was over, and in 1920, a sales tax was added. Many more taxes have been added since then and governments are quite creative in this regard. Not all of this tax revenue is spent wisely. Canadians and perhaps our American friends may complain about all these taxes but we are by no means the most taxed people in the world. Here are the income taxes some countries pay (sources may not be scientifically accurate but hopefully at least consistently inaccurate). Which do you find surprising?

Both in Canada and the United States, the cost of food used to be a much lower percentage of our household budget. It was low enough that we didn't spend a lot of time thinking about it. This is not the case in many other countries and we may soon be joining them. Here are some countries with the highest food costs (as of Dec 2022). (sources may not be scientifically accurate but hopefully at least consistently inaccurate). Which do you find surprising?

So if you make a good income and pay your taxes, you end up with "net income" and, if there is enough of it left after you go grocery shopping, you can spend it on "lifestyle". Here are some countries that have above average lifestyles as measured by somebody. (sources may not be scientifically accurate but hopefully at least consistently inaccurate). Which of them to you find surprising?