Are middle class and poor Americans overtaxed?

I'd say no. On the state level, depends. Oklahoma has property tax, sales tax (on all items, including food), and income tax. In OK, I'd say the poor and middle class are overtaxed. I've gotten an income tax refund ONCE from the state and have qualified for EITC from the fed gov't several times.

On the federal level, I feel it's just about right. Of course, there is no place where you only pay fed taxes.

I have no problem paying taxes, BUT I would like to know that in our capitalistic society, I am getting what I pay for from the Government.

In my opinion, all of the bloat is not the problem of too many "lazy welfare bums" either, but general waste.

And frankly, social programs are good for all of us, if for no other reason than to completely ignore the "huddled masses" creates an ever-growing large portion of the population with nothing to lose.

I'd have to say I am not getting my money's worth from any level of government. The local police do not patrol my neighborhood, the city does not clear brush and weeds from the roads in my neighborhood, and the people I know who live in the rural areas have it even worse, what with no one caring about the tainting of their water table by the big factory chicken farms and uncapped abandoned oil wells. And welfare payments? In this county at least, $800 a month for 2 people is considered to be too much to qualify for assistance even though rent for a one bedroom place (if you can find one) is $400--and that doesn't include utilities.

But maybe I'm just looking at this the wrong way. After all, the state highway that runs through town is repaved annually whether it needs it or not. I've been thinking that was a boondoggle to put money in the pockets of wealthy contractors in return for their campaign donations, but maybe it's a compassionate conservatism in the form of trickle down economics. Now, if only the road crews were actually hired from around here.