Today's income tax rates are strikingly low relative to the rates of the past century, especially for rich people. For most of the century, including some boom times, top-bracket income tax rates were much higher than they are today.
Contrary to what Republicans would have you believe, super-high tax rates on rich people do not appear to hurt the economy or make people lazy: During the 1950s and early 1960s, the top bracket income tax rate was over 90%--and the economy, middle-class, and stock market boomed.
http://www.businessinsider.com/history-of-tax-rates?op=1
When we used to fight wars we raised the costs of the war by raising taxes. But the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq werer fought "off-budget." In additiuon, the top income tax rates are right around historic LOWS. That coupled with the ridiculous capital gains tax rate and the capability of corporations to hise revenue off-shore has resulted in U.S. federal tax revenue as a % of GDP being lower than at any time since 1951! Tax rates are NOT low. Tax receipts are NOT excessive. Radical conservatives are misrepresenting thes FACTS are arguing against and rejecting tax increases for the last 30 years.
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/displayafact.cfm?Docid=200
At6 least understand the facts before making foolish statements.