Prosperity can originate in a number of ways, but one of the most direct is simply having the funds to maintain, and build on our American dreams.
Taxes should not be complicated. The more complicated a system is, the more opportunity there is for loopholes to be exploited. And, as it becomes increasingly unfair in the eyes of everyone involved (tax payers), there is more incentive to "play the system" ... and now the system is broken.
In addition to taxes on the things we buy, EVERY American should pay the SAME percentage on total income. No exceptions, no fine print, and certainly no "brackets" to fit.