You don't understand. 45% of 1 million means nothing. Maybe skimp on the next vacation to Paris. 20% income tax on 60k means someone might never be able to retire or help pay for his kids college degree.
Perhaps the idea that those that earn 28% of the income need to be taxed at 45% is an indictment on California's spending.
https://psmag.com/the-imf-confirms-that-trickle-down-economi... http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=42986.0