Undertaxed

Having recently done my taxes, I can report that my wife and my combined incomes put us in the highest-earning 20% of the income distribution, yet we pay only 10 percent of our income in federal income taxes. We are undertaxed. President Obama and Congress, please raise my taxes and use the proceeds to maintain and strengthen our social safety net.

I know what you're saying - if I feel that way why don't I voluntarily pay more in taxes, give Uncle Sam a little tip with my tax return? Because I know that my contribution won't strengthen our social safety net, it will have no impact whatsoever. I and the rest of the American public are in a low tax Nash equilibrium: each of us finds it optimal to pay as little as we can in taxes, given that we know that everyone else is paying as little as he or she can. I want us to all at once, together, move to the cooperative equilibrium where we all pay higher taxes and as a result live in a better country.