We're not quite that dense, pal. We know exactly what is going on. Listen carefully.

The rich used to be taxed enormous amounts of money, like 90%. The idea wasn't to take away most of their income, but to get them to plow that back into productive use, like foundations, investment, businesses, research, and even charity.

Since most income is derived through commercial activity, they knew how to restructure their businesses for the new environment.
Only people like rock stars and athletes actually paid ninety cents on the dollar, they didn't know how to be reborn as trusts or corporations.

But business wasn't satisfied with this arrangement, it and well- meaning (and some not-so-well-meaning) but clueless government bureaucrats gradually replaced this system with a complex Babel of exemptions, loopholes, special exceptions and other tax dodges that eventually subverted the system and allowed anyone who owned a stable of lobbyists, lawyers and accountants to get away without paying his fair share.

It is the purpose of the modern Republican Party, and their prole allies in the Tea Party, to maintain this pyramid of privilege.