As the 2024 election cycle barrels toward record-breaking spending, a new poll reveals that a vast majority of American voters see the tax code as rigged in favor of the ultra-rich—and they're losing faith in democracy because of it.
The survey, conducted by Hart Research Associates for the advocacy group Better Taxes for a Better America, found that 77% of registered voters believe wealthy Americans pay too little in taxes, while 86% say the rich wield too much influence over government. Three-quarters call the overall tax system unfair, and 60% say the tax system itself is a prime example of democracy failing to work as it should.
These findings come amid an explosion of corporate and billionaire political giving. Companies have already poured $646 million into federal races this cycle—a 40% jump over the entire 2024 presidential cycle—and the top 20 individual donors, most of them billionaires, have combined for a staggering $1.2 billion. Many of these mega-donors hail from the crypto, AI, and online betting sectors, and they are bankrolling lawmakers who oppose new regulations on their industries, according to the survey's release.
Sarah Pray, executive director of Better Taxes for a Better America, said the data shows that Americans are not abandoning democratic ideals but are questioning whether the system can withstand the influence of concentrated wealth. "Americans haven't stopped believing in democracy," she said. "They're wondering whether our democracy is strong enough to stand up to wealth and power."
The poll also highlights a striking divide: while 62% of respondents say democracy isn't working well for people like them, 80% still consider it extremely or very important that the U.S. remain a democracy. That gap, Pray argues, is a demand for proof that government can act in the public interest, not a rejection of democratic governance.
Scholars have long argued that paying taxes gives citizens a stake in self-governance—a sense of shared contribution that underpins democratic legitimacy. The survey suggests voters intuitively grasp that link: 81% say a system where the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share is essential to a healthy democracy.
Yet the current tax code, shaped by lobbyists and loopholes, often lets the richest avoid their obligations while working families feel the pinch of rising costs on groceries, health care, and energy. As inflation continues to erode household budgets, the disparity between how ordinary Americans and billionaires experience the tax system has become a flashpoint.
President Trump's own conduct has amplified the perception of a two-tiered system, with wealthy insiders gaining access and influence while contributing comparatively little to the public coffers. "Every day, we see in the news people with exorbitant sums of money exerting more influence over the people making our laws, all while contributing less to the country those laws govern," Pray said.
Policymakers, the survey suggests, could restore faith by taking concrete action. Seventy-six percent of respondents said they would feel more confident in democracy if they saw a headline announcing major tax reform that raised taxes on the wealthy. "They need proof, not lectures," Pray said.
The economic case for higher taxes on the rich is well established: revenue from the wealthy and corporations funds health care, education, child care, and social services that expand opportunity for all. But the political case, as this poll shows, is just as compelling—fairness in taxation is now a core test of whether democracy can deliver for ordinary Americans.
As the debate over the Senate filibuster and other procedural battles heats up, the tax fairness issue is likely to dominate the closing months of the campaign. For millions of voters, it's not just about numbers on a return—it's about whether the system works for them.
