How about closing the loopholes created for the rich which makes it that they end up paying a lower percentage of their income to taxes than many so-called "middle class people" do. Warren Buffett pointed out that his secretary pays higher taxes than he does (I'm assuming he's referring to an executive secretary having a six-figure salary).

It's difficult to have discussions on our profligate government spending when a majority of the people don't believe everybody is pulling their weight.