Next time you think the US wage and employment system is unfair and doesnt pay a living wage just remember this... you can spend a year in your moms bawsement learning programming and reading books and then go get an entry level job for 40k - 50k, and by the end of 4 years (presuming you continue to refine your skills) will easily be able to rake in 100K a year.... all with no diploma or formal education, just your own hard work.
You can't even get that in most of europe... america is a pretty damn good place to move up if you bother to invest in your own skills.