That's interesting about the progressive taxation. My quick look at income tax rates in the US is that there is a lot of progressiveness in the income ranges of the top 5% rather than through the income levels that the bell curve of Americans live in. I am not an expert or spent anytime I must say so I'm not arguing just my first look.
What income range do you define as middle class? And What's lower class in the US income wise?
Also for a bit of context what government services do people receive welfare for in the US? What are the big sercices that are driving those net negative tax payments?