Quote Originally Posted by SniperJoe
Psst...there is this thing called the AMT. You should read about it before claiming that the "rich" are getting away with stuff.
I don't exactly consider AMT payers as being rich. You can get hit by the time you have 50-100k AGI. Those who are truly wealthy still have other options. They have tax shelters and creative accountants that can make business ventures appear to bleed money.

I have an economics degree focused on public finance...but I haven't exactly sat around examining tax codes. I prefer to look at the effects of the large entitlement programs like SS and Medicaid which are in for far bigger blowups.

The rich do get hit w/ a lot of taxes and I don't propose we tax them more...just make sure they pay their fair amount. The system is already trying to be more fair than it used to be since marginal tax brackets hit 50% back in the 70's.

Those of us yet to conform to gov't directed actions like getting married, having kids or getting a mortgage are the ones who marginally get hit the hardest. I have friends that easily pay over 100k/year in taxes in NY but pretty much have to live like college students b/c of the jacked up tax code.