I Don't Understand Taxation

I recently did my taxes and received my tax refund. This is where my confusion comes in.

Last year I made ~$13,000 gross. This breaks down to $1,083 each month, $6.77/hr for a  40 hour work-week each month. This is lower than minimum wage. This is barely above the poverty level for someone of my household size. But I still ended up owing taxes. Almost 50% of my withholding stayed with the Federal Government. That has never happened before in the 14 year history of my filing taxes. And I qualified for the Earned Income Credit again. A whopping $13 added to my refund.

Yes, I am aware that I am whining. But, as someone who got rejected for unemployment because I wasn't working at least 30 hours a week when I requested assistance, is too young for Medicare benefits, and can't access my Social Security money, what benefit other than military paychecks am I really seeing?? Police, Fire, and EMT services are paid at the city and state level out of sales and property taxes. But, honestly, where did my money go and why can't I have it back to use it to buy groceries or pay the electric bill?? Am I paying for a deficit I didn't vote to approve?? And if I hear one more time about a member of Congress or the Executive office taking a cushy vacation, I may just scream. You're taking that vacation with my money!

Thank goodness I landed 2 jobs this past week and one of them is full-time with benefits. If that hadn't happened, in May I would've been living in my car or in my tent in a relative's backyard. At least we don't have to pay for public restrooms....yet.