1. The middle class grew FASTER at the turn of the 19th Century (the era when you say "the rich" were all powerful) then they ever did before or since.
2. The real reason the federal income tax was passed was because the Southrons felt that the Yankees had "too much money." How they now regret this!
3. The era of "high payin' factory jobs" only lasted from the end of WWII (when management had no choice but to buy labor peace) until the early 1970s, and was a phenomomenon limited to the upper midwest and northeast. Sorry if you can no longer get a middle class salary just for "showing up" to polish screws!
You obviously learned history from McLiberal textbooks. Read Hayek work on the industrial revolution for a change! If you still feel as you do, there is a place for you in the Democratic Party with other class warriors and folks jealous of others success.
I thought the 16th Amendment was passed because of a bluff raised by "Progressive" Republican congressmen, a bluff that Teddy Roosevelt seized on and advanced until it was ratified.
Spot on!