Sushi, I agree. It is a sad state, to be sure. I understand a little over 100 years ago, there were NO taxes in the United States, yet we were the richest country in the world.
The world wars started, & taxes started to pay for the war. I understand that. But the "professional politions" realized they had a money tree, and it has gotten worse ever since.
Social Security was started to SUPPLIMENT people's retirement, & many thought they could live off it, and did NOT put money away to live on in retirement.
Now with probably over 50% of wages going to taxes, Income tax, property tax,(paid with already taxed money); sales tax ,(paid with already taxed money) ; fuel tax, (paid with already taxed money, you see where I'm going) & prices going up so much faster than wages, a lot of people can not afford to put much up to retire on. It's the snow-ball effect, & it's getting worse faster & faster. No idea what the long-term answer is, but it ain't gonna be pretty for quite a while.