This isn’t half the story. Sales tax, property tax, convenience tax and on and on. Most Americans are too stupid to understand this.
Nothing is more pathetic than somebody screaming in delight that they got a “refund” of $1200 from the IRS. Paying $10,000 to get $1200 is not a profit. Government was smart. Take and take from every check so they don’t even miss it, then “give back” a small percentage so they look like heroes come April.
I've always said we need to do away with payroll deduction. Let's have everyone, even the almost 50% who don't pay income taxes, have to shell out their yearly FICA and Medicaid payment when they file. Then, maybe, just maybe they would understand and could get behind reining in the government spending levels.