The sad truth
Johnston uses his familarity and experience to show the disgusting, sordid truth. He does not hate taxes; he believes that taxes are the price of civilization. But the tax system -- and the ignorant, wanna-be Republicans-because-then-they'll-be-rich citizens -- are gamed, and the poor and middle class are manipulated by the rich -- of both parties.
I have given copies of this book to colleagues in the estate planning field, but they are part of the system. Their conscience is driven by what benefits their wealthy clients -- and them. I gave a copy to the wife of the national editor of the Congressional Quarterly, and recommended it to the leading legal expert in the IRA retirment field. But its trenchant, almost gut-twising tales of artifices contrived and form over substance don't make the news. Everybody thinks that what is good for the millionaires will "trickle down" to them some day. Meanwhile, the middle class is squeezed by the airplane rides and financial gyrations of the rich and politically powerful. I'll bet Ron Paul has read this book!
