Correct and I agree with what you are saying.
No for someone making 100k in calif vs 100k in nevada, the difference in taxes is about 7k. So, yes, as an average person, not many people look into that; however, when the base is 5.8 mil vs 6.8 mil a year, that is a big difference. Then again, things are exponentially cheaper in nevada than california, literally across the board (housing, food, education, etc.). Sucks those fuc*ers and their bad driving ability came here...bastards.
Since 2020, in America at least, politics has been the main driver on where people live. Regardless of what side you like best, if you have the means to leave, you are going to a city/state that is what you like best. Many people left california/ny for texas/florida. Honestly, there is big differences in lifestyle between the two comparisons. Don't think I need to really go through them, they should be inferred. Good website to explore this theory/realization:
IRS Tax Migration | How Money Walks | How $2 Trillion Moved between the States - A Book By Travis H. Brown
I think if you talk raw dollars, it sounds significant, but rarely on anyone's mind whether they get an extra 5-11% after taxes. People chase opportunities, enjoyment etc. more than the bottom line of money. Most people rarely care if you get an extra 15% in wages if everything else is absolutely more dismal. This is the same for lower income, middle class and rich IMO. This is why the tax thing is IMO such a far thing down the line for reasons of evaluation. There are plenty of millionaires in Calgary who are happy to stick around. There are others who will migrate to where they enjoy things more.
The main high profile guy to leave for tax reasons was Murray Edwards (of all people, the coincidence lol) and it's not like fleeing to the US would have done anything much for him to accomplish that. He left for the UK and then if I'm not mistaken Switzerland. IIRC this also had more to do with the taxing of his assets (as a billionaire) vs the taxing of his yearly income.
I agree that politics is an important reason for leaving a place, but I'd extend that concept to a more broad one like vibe. Cultural, political, familial/friendship etc. vibes are reasons people leave regardless of income opportunity cost. It has an intangible value that some people will consider that transcends a certain value of money, and IMO it transcends money/compensation only to the point where someone deems it helps to resolve some other issue (ie: Lack of consumerism). Vibe wise, Gaudreau (family being 1.5 hours away vs 10), Tkachuk (beach party), Fox (no place like NYC) etc. I think those hit the top of the list like half a dozen times before anything else.
Something shattered this season. I think Sutter was a catalyst for it, but the vibe of the locker room was constantly discussed as amazing in interviews for about 2-3 years until halfway through this season. Things like, "Other teams, you'd have a bunch of guys have dinner together after hours, in Calgary we were constantly booking private rooms to have everyone together." just suddenly vanished. In previous off seasons, some of the players would vacation together in Europe and whatnot with the entire family. That was a vibe worth sticking around for, but it somehow suddenly vanished. I think that's the biggest unreported reason for a sudden discussion of an exodus of players. The 1 year to UFA guys are the biggest story, but I think expiring UFA of this season is another part of that vibe and core of tight knit guys deciding on a new non-Calgary family vibe chapter. That's dudes like Lucic and Lewis and their families. IMO I wouldn't blame them and IMO it makes more sense to me than "taxes".
Hanifin, Toffoli, Lindholm, Backlund etc. ain't leaving because of taxes and Calgary isn't having issues getting guys here because of taxes. It's a laundry list of items well before that. Calgary is in for a few painful years, but they'll be fine after that.
And I want to clear something up. Unique for Calgary, if we have to fire sale and go full rebuild, the majority of our fanbase will be elated, not disappointed. Typically many other teams have significantly more disappointment for going rebuild. Lots of Flames fans have been hoping for a proper rebuild vs retools/rushed rebuilds since around 2014. The Saddledome sold out of tickets for a chance to watch Bedard play one of his last games. The option of watching all of the Hitmen, Heat and Flames at the Dome has been nothing but awesome.
Ownership mandate has refused proper rebuilds for so many decades, that it's something we desire but assume we'll never get. None of the other Canadian teams have experienced this for as long as Calgary and just sat on the wheel of mediocrity. Flames fans will welcome a rebuild. It's ownership that's refusing. All these players wanting out of Calgary is bittersweet. We understand and are happy not because we dislike the players, but because there's a very obvious silver lining that isn't awful either.
