The tax code makes me crazy. It's designed to keep you from breaking into the next level of income at every turn.
My income has tripled in the past 10 years, but my net after taxes is less than half of that. It only changes once you pass the max limit on all taxes (local, state, federal) then your net income gain matches your gross income gain (or better).
It's a built-in resistance to getting ahead by increasing the tax rates exponentially on the middle class as their income rises.
Wonder why there is no support for a flat tax rate? The ones at the top would pay more as a percentage than they do now and the ones in the middle would pay less. There are more in the middle so tax revenues would drop...and the ones at the top paying more isn't enough to make up for it.
I wonder how things would change if votes were weighted by the percent of your income you paid in taxes? (insert sound of politicians wailing and running for shelter).
*This isn't a political commentary, just an observation regarding the logistics of government funding...no political parties or individuals were named...or blamed. Your mileage may vary.