After reading this article "Sociologists' research study finds everyday tax talk is 'morally charged'", I was somewhat stunned that in 2012, it would still be a topic of research to consider what the American taxpayer is upset about.

"We propose that everyday tax talk among the middle class is not simply about economics or free markets," NIU sociologist Jeffrey Kidder said. "Tax talk is morally charged.

OK, perhaps I shouldn't be so cynical and critical, but DUH!!!!

Are politicians and social scientists truly so naive?  Does anyone truly believe that the dislike of taxes and economic policies is because the middle class is discussing the controversial aspects of free market economics?

"In this study, we demonstrate how people associate the income tax with a violation of the moral principle that hard work should be rewarded," he added. "Our research has implications for how policymakers should frame fiscal issues.

So that's the best the researchers can come up with?  That it's a "framing" problem?

The truly disappointing irony of the whole article, was after exploring all the arguments for why people believe that bail-outs and taxation are fundamentally unfair, the article addressed no solutions to any of those points.  Instead they simply sought ways to create a more palatable tax system.  

Even within the context of social research, apparently no one can figure out what "fair" means, instead they simply seek alternative means of marketing a taxation ploy.  

We're doomed.