Wealthy Republicans, especially strongly conservative Republicans complain about taxes more than other Americans, and spend a lot of money electing federal government legislators and the president to create a tax system that favors them. This is wrong-headed. We have only to look to Western Europe and especially Scandinavia to see how modern, well-run governments ought to work: highly progressive federal income taxes, and a robust government that benefits all citizens. What we Americans pay in taxes PLUS all the things that European nations provide their citizens (higher education, health care, social welfare and a higher standard of living, etc.) is more than what Europeans pay. We're getting screwed by the fat cats and the Republicans. It's just that simple. And we've had this argument for decades - and we'll continue to argue about it, because we're a young nation and we haven't rooted out enough of the rich fat cat whiners yet.
This was a piece on tax transparency. In a perfect world, a simplistic tax system that does not make choices for people is the best system. Yet, every time someone has a bright idea to fix the tax system they add more pages to the code and the regulations and 10 more tax forms. Sunset the tax code and force Congress to do it again.
Scott - you are well on your way to a book! Appreciate the series!
You write "Most people accept that taxes are necessary." Well...:
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/04/06/top-tax-frustrations-for-americans-feeling-that-some-wealthy-people-corporations-dont-pay-fair-share/
Wealthy Republicans, especially strongly conservative Republicans complain about taxes more than other Americans, and spend a lot of money electing federal government legislators and the president to create a tax system that favors them. This is wrong-headed. We have only to look to Western Europe and especially Scandinavia to see how modern, well-run governments ought to work: highly progressive federal income taxes, and a robust government that benefits all citizens. What we Americans pay in taxes PLUS all the things that European nations provide their citizens (higher education, health care, social welfare and a higher standard of living, etc.) is more than what Europeans pay. We're getting screwed by the fat cats and the Republicans. It's just that simple. And we've had this argument for decades - and we'll continue to argue about it, because we're a young nation and we haven't rooted out enough of the rich fat cat whiners yet.
This was a piece on tax transparency. In a perfect world, a simplistic tax system that does not make choices for people is the best system. Yet, every time someone has a bright idea to fix the tax system they add more pages to the code and the regulations and 10 more tax forms. Sunset the tax code and force Congress to do it again.