$70,000 a year is what an individual needs to make to enjoy a decent quality of life. This affords you shelter, food, healthcare, and education. 

What we repeatedly hear from the super-rich conservatives is that the richer they are, and the less taxes they pay the better off we all are. 

Republican representatives do not answer to their constituents on these issues. They answer to their donors. Their donors have made it abundantly clear: repeal Obamacare, deny climate science, and pass the tax overhaul. Do these things or you don't get any more money.

Believe what you want, but you should at least be aware of who most of our representatives are working for. It's less about their constituents and more about who's funding their campaigns. We all know this. The grassroots politicians are few and far between. The same people funding our representatives are the same people funding the media. It's all self-serving for people who hate paying taxes. Happens on both sides.