Sorry, but I don't find 39.6% "overly burdensome."  Do you realize that we have had top marginal income tax rates as high as 94% (1944-1945).  More recently, throughout most the '60s and '70s it was 70% or higher.  Throughout most of the '80s it was 50% or higher. 

I don't think our problem is that taxes are overly burdensome.  Rather, it is that the cost of living has gone up faster than wages.  In the '60s and '70s when our parents and grandparents were paying as much as 70% in the top bracket, they were still managing to save 15% of their income.  Most can't do that anymore, despite generally lower tax rates.

Would I like to see taxes even lower?  Of course... but I'd rather see our government less dependent on borrowing.  We should be pushing for spending cuts and debt reduction before we think about reducing taxes again.

Best,
Robert A. Franco
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