I always figured that a free floor flat tax would be a good idea.
Say the first 30K (inflation adjusted) is free then any income over that is taxed at a flat rate. (For argument sake say 10%)
Someone who makes 40K would be taxed on the last 10K, and at 10% his tax bill would be $1,000 only 1/40th of his income would me sent to DC. Just over a 2% tax rate.
Some one who makes 1,000,000 would pay 10% of 970,000 or $97,000. A 9.7% tax rate.