Define what you believe is a "fair share" ...

Flat tax anyone?

"it seems more and more see that number as somewhere near zero."

I don't buy that at all. The problem is that the Feds, the State, and the Locals are all digging in the same pocket and when you add it all up it becomes a fair amount of money.

I don't have an issue with "paying my fair share". However, as a self employed person I do have legitimate concerns about all the increases that are and will occur. State B/O is going up, gas tax up, medical costs up, sales taxes already up, and BTW, since I am self employed I am already paying 100% of my fed taxes, don't have an employer to share the load with. I realize that I have made the choice to be self employed but the wallet isn't bottomless either.

And BTW I already made a sizable "donation" to the state last year when I bought a used car for $4200 and had to pay the "retail tax value" of $6400 anyway.

Balance the budget? Here's a credible, bipartisan attempt:
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/federal-budget-statistics-1110

Taxation strategies are good, wonky conversation. If you haven't read about the "Fair Tax" (e.g. Huckabee) version, I find it super interesting:

http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_main

No surprise that a landscape designer who probably takes most of his income in cash is all for jumping into other people's pockets.

BTW, Income tax is only part of the total pie.