Why are the rich penalized for being successful? I don't understand?

The income tax makes no sense at all. If liberals want everyone to be "equal" then EVERYONE should be taxed; regardless of your income. It's total idiocy to penalize people for actually living their lives to the fullest, while rewarding others for being lazy and achieving nothing. Get lazy freeloaders an incentive to get off their *** and help stimulate the economy.