I've filed my own taxes for a decade, and every year I wonder if the complexity is deliberately designed to make us pay for software or accountants. But beyond that, I've started to question whether progressive taxation actually punishes success and discourages economic growth. My brother is a small business owner who turned down a big contract because the marginal tax rate would have left him with almost nothing, and that felt wrong. Sure, we need public services, but at what point does the state become a partner that takes too much of the risk and reward?