I think it is better to point out that there are simply not enough rich people to pay for the gravy train and thus the money has to come from the taxpaying middle class.
A good example is the new CAFE standards that will raise the price of new cars $2,000. That is how this social engineering fascist stuff will get paid for and every taxpayer will tax a hit.
CAFE standards are also responsible in part for high gas prices. Regulations vary widely from state to state about the acceptable mix for gasoline, making it much more expensive to process.
Off topic, but the Dallas Morning News had an editorial yesterday condemning California voters for rejecting the increase in cigarette tax. The DMN claimed that Cal voters are killing people by this vote.
Could they be more ignorant? If they really think cigarettes are that dangerous, make them illegal. It would save me a lot of money, and create a profitable new industry — black market cigarettes.