I would laugh about this if it wasn't so dire. The govt always thinks they can just raise taxes to gain revenue while telling us to do with less....why don't they take their own advice? Think about it like this...
10 guys go to a bar. They decide to use the graduating scale of taxation to split the tab. The first 4 guys pay nothing (they are the most poor/lacking in funds...if you will.) The next guy pays 2 bucks. The sixth and seventh guy pay 4 bucks. The eighth and ninth guy pay 20 bucks a piece. The tenth guy pays 30 bucks for a total tab of 80 bucks.
Now, the bartender aka govt, tells them that since they are such loyal customers...he will drop the tab 20 bucks down to 60 ala tax breaks. Now they all have to decide how to split the deduction. Since the last guy paid the most, it's obvious he should reap the largest percentage of the break, so on and so forth down the line.
Now, the other fellows seeing this get mad. Guy #10 got the largest amount of money back! It's unfair! I want my fair portion, too! This goes on until you reach the last 4 people...the most poor.
"We didn't get anything back! The system only rewards the rich!!!" So now the bartender, to settle the peace, gives them a chunk of something that they paid nothing in to, to begin with.
The next day, guys 1 through 9 see guy 10. Since they are mad, they beat him up. Well, the next night for drinks, guy 10 doesn't show up. Lo and behold, guys 1-9 don't have enough money to cover even 75% of the tab.
This is what happens when you raise taxes. Those that cannot, suffer. Those that can, move. Eventually, the govt will run out of people to rob.