"The problem is that the people complaining when their benefits are cut are often the same ones complaining that our tax rate is 'too high'"

That is because it is.

"compared to the 92% (!) marginal tax rate during Eisenhower's administration."

Compared with a 92% marginal tax rate everything seems low, but that was not a "tax", it was a commandeering in times of war.

I think that is the reason governments love wars so much, you can steal all the people's property and have people feeling thankful for not being dead.