30% seems a rather high tax rate already at the top, I think the problem is more the tax loopholes corporations and individuals can jump through. Close the loopholes, keep the tax at 30%, and institute a flat tax below the top income to simplify the tax system. If you're at the top income you're probably business savvy enough to at least take a stab at doing your own taxes, for many lower income families it doesn't seem to make much sense to expect them to jump through the hoops to pay their taxes, when by the nature of their low income chances are they aren't very financially savvy to begin with. So flat tax below the top income level, 30% at the top level, then raise the estate tax... after all, the only time you won't mind paying taxes is after you're dead
As for the minimum wage, I like Jim Rohn's stance on it, and have adopted it as my own- there's a vast ladder in America, from an immigrant being paid dollars an hour under the table to CEO's being paid hundreds of millions a year. Anyone can climb that ladder if they are ambitious, disciplined, and pursuant of a personal education, so what's the use of a minimum wage? It's only useful if someone intends to stay at the minimum wage, in which case they aren't bringing much value to the market place to begin with.