This country came into being because many Americans believed that taxpayers are entitled to some influence over the government they support. Without representation in Parliament colonists had no voice in British imperial government and they deeply resented any effort to make them pay a share of the empire's expenses. Flash forward to the 21st Century. The people who support the United States government are allowed to vote, but their votes mean very little.
Most American voters pay no federal income tax.
The twenty per cent of taxpayers that report the highest incomes pay about eighty per cent of the income taxes that the IRS collects. Politicians can't win and hold office by appealing to the people who foot the bill for government. They win by appealing to the people who freeload on the government provided by a small minority of relatively affluent citizens. Our republic has truly become two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. Government shakes down a small group to buy votes from a large one.