Because by your simplistic logic no taxes should be paid. If tax refunds are returning people's money then it was theft in the first place. While many conservatives believe this most people understand that spending some of their income on governemnt services is worthwhile.

Stepping away from your simplistic logic the question is what tax burden is fair and whether or not taxes should be a higher percentage for higher incomes. A simplistic view like I had when I was younger is that a flat tax is fairer. Isn't it fair if everyone pays the same share of their income?

As I got older I asked other questions like:

Is it fair for working people to struggle to survive while others live in comfort?

Is it fair for CEO's to get huge bonuses with declining profits for laying off people? Shouldn't everyone share the burden of bad times?

Why do American CEOs earn so much more compared to their employees than in other nations?

Does demanding a 10% reduction in costs warrant earning far more than figuring out how to do it?

Does playing accounting shell games deserve more money than real cost savings?

Why does the income gap keep growing?

Why does office politics matter more than ability in getting promotions in so many companies?

Is it fair to spend on our government priorities but not pay for it and leave the debt for others to pay?

Is it fair for money to amplify your opinions on public policy tremendously in a democratic society?

How can we keep the benefits of wealth creation in driving progress while minimizing the corrupting power of immense wealth?

Is it fair to use tax policy as a means of generating desired social outcomes?

What level of inherited wealth tends to lead to sloth and negligence in those that inherit it?

I see a lot of inefficiencies in our system Tom and wealth and/or entrenched power systems have a hand in most of them. America is the most powerful nation in the world because it holds closely to capitalistic ideals, but its best companies do so far better than the average ones.

Regards,
Mark