It should be pretty obvious how I feel about this topic. Tax expert and New York Times columnist David Cay Johnson has written a book that it would behoove every American who has ever complained about their taxes, has ever been audited, or has ever been worried about being audited by the dreaded IRS. Reading this book is likely to enrage you. For decades there has been a double-standard by which the very rich and the rest of us are treated by the IRS. If things made sense, the rich would pay their "fair share" and then some, but due to shady deals (tax shelters, etc.) and legalized bribery ( campaign contributions and corporate influence) the uber-rich are listened to by politicians of all stripes and all parties, while the rest of us are ignored. In case after case, the "political donor class" as the author refers to extremely wealthy and influential campaign contributors have the ear of those who make tax and financial policy so those who can't or don't pay these bribes needs and wants are unheeded. Needless to say, George W. Bush's and his potential G.O.P. successor John McCain's odious idea of "permanent tax-breaks" for millionaires and billionaires is ruining the economy, screwing over the poor snd middle-class, and mortgaging the future of the young and future generations yet to be born. It is not only Republicans who support these policies. Democrats are just as guilty, but Obama is more likely to support a fairer system.
Johnson wrote a similar book within the last year or so, entitled: Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You With The Bill). I haven't read it yet, but it sounds well-worth reading.
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