1) You will get no pity from anyone if you complain about your taxes because your household income is over $250k, except from others earning that or more. That's not a large number of people. It's 3% of the country. So, the complaining is probably best kept to yourself if you don't want a bunch of people poking fun at you.

2) Progressive taxation schemes do not mean that because you earned 250,001 last year you are suddenly paying OMG SUPER HIGH TAXES on *everything*. It means you're paying it on everything over the first $250k. So if you earned $260k before taxes, you're only paying the higher tax rates on the $10k over and above.

3) Professor, I don't make as much as you, and I can afford an accountant. What the hell is wrong with you?