Yeah but you're just focusing on after tax amount in my mind you're just writing off the other portion. It's out of sight out of mind. Even now most people don't have a concept other then when they randomly look at their pay stub.

You want the tax burden to lift from the workers to the corporations who lobby for the rules to avoid paying taxes, make the people see the full amount. Pay people their entire paycheck, no tax withholdings. Then make the stroke a check or transfer funds every month. The pressure for tax reform in this country might actually happen.

Then have people factor in what they spent that was taxed like sales tax, gas tax, etc. Add that in for their school and county tax and most people wouldn't imagine they're being taxed at such a high rate.