Should the 50% tax burden be higher, lower, or about the same?

[J-Mann]

Statistics aren't off limits from spin, and I'd really like to see a source for this information.

As to the question: if the burden is at 50%, if you want it lowered, I guess it depends on how much you really want your government to do.  A wasted local tax for one man may be money well spent for another.  The same goes for all taxes.  

[J-Mann]

Until I see a source on that info, I'm going to assume that the burden isn't that high.  My family does not pay 50% of their income to the government (and hasn't and won't at any time unless extraordinary tax hikes take place); we're the "average" family.

[J-Mann]

I have heard it is about 42% annually on average.

That actually sounds very close to being correct.  Philip's statistic may be taking estate taxes into account, also, but I'm not sure.