Our Bleeping Tax System

Before I even go anywhere here, I will state that I am an ignoramus when it comes to the income tax system we have here in the United States. But I do want to brag that I have learned some on it from the school of hard knocks as time has went on. Yet, there are some things about this complicated program that really bugs me and still puzzles me.
This year, we were fortunate enough to have to pay the government a nice chunk of change, yet we have couples we know receive huge refunds that blew my mind. In talking to others, we have had people advise us that we should try this preparer over this preparer because they consistently get you better deals. My question is how this can be if numbers are numbers, and everything is supposed to be set in stone. Doesn't this mean, one preparer or the other is doing something illegal, or are there enough blasted loopholes in the system that each one's version will clinically work? Also, we have had preparers give us advice, which other experts have later told us would be illegal if we followed it as well, so who does really know the mechanics behind this insane system?
My anger can't help but rise as it seems at times we can no longer celebrate pay raises because it can move us into a higher tax bracket, and of course, causes more to be taken from us. Will this ultimately destroy the initiative that has driven Americans in the past to achieve great things and seek to earn higher incomes? I hope not because it is still the best country in the world for getting things accomplished, although the politicians are sure trying to lead it backwards. In the past, Americans have risen up ahead of the nitwits in Washington and strived on their own, but have the nitwits caught up in what seems like their push to handicap us all? As a member of Generation X, I ask why we still have to pay into Social Security if it supposedly isn't going to be around when we retire. Why can't we use the money (after all it is ours) to open our own accounts? The tax system is so frustrating.
To end on a positive note, it is still nice to be able to wake up and know we can pursue the day however we like to pursue it, as that is a benefit of being in America. Although, we have politicians that are forcing a confusing system upon us to collect their revenue, we still have the freedom to complain about it. For that I am thankful. And maybe someday, if enough of us use our freedom to complain, a hint will be planted in the capital city that will move it towards developing a better way. After all, teamwork can be very effective.