Are you "fortunate" if you work hard?

[Cracker]

And while the idea of a flat tax is appealing, wouldn't that mean that we would be forcing more lower and middle income households in to applying for social welfare programs?

Why would it harm anyone to pay their fair share of services they use? Poor people don't use roads and schools? (OK, they don't use schools as much, but they use the roads more because they aren't in school all day.)

Pay for what you use. That is a simple concept and keeps people honest. Stop putting your fucking hand out for charity, put it out with a tool in it and work for what you get.

That can only raise the level of this society and has no downside. We are brainwashed into thinking people can't contribute and take care of themselves. People CAN and we should expect it from ALL people.