The Democrats and mainstream media have demagogued the idea that the "rich" in America need to pay their "fair share" of taxes. They have never defined or quantified what that "fair share" is (and they never will because they do not know). According to the Congressional Budget Office, in 2009 (the latest figures available), the top 1 percent paid 22 percent of federal taxes while earning just 13.4 percent of household income. The top 5 percent paid 40 percent of all federal taxes, despite earning only 26 percent of all income (this takes into account all forms of income).
So, what is their "fair share"?
It's really an easy question to answer. The rich's "fair share" is enough to keep buying Democrats votes and elections, and transfer enough wealth to keep a substantial number of people--hopefully a majority--in dependency. It is not in government's interest for people to become self-reliant and responsible; for, if that happens, government is no longer needed.
Freedom and government are enemies. Our Founding Fathers knew it well; so does the modern Democratic Party.