Starting back in 1913 when Philander Knox (of Ft Knox fame) rubber-stamped the ratification of the income tax into law, we've been lied to ever since. Anyone in here that tries to defend the continued financial rape of each and every one of us by the IRS should re-examine their conservative credentials. If indeed our job in here is to inform each other as well as the rest of the public, then this is an issue that deserves further teaching.
I've learned my lesson here in America. I only work JUST ENOUGH to pay for the basics, and that's it. I got tired of being raped by the government every single year so that loafers and freeloaders could sponge off of me.
The only way to win against the government is the same way to win against any other addiction, you can't win so you can only surrender. In this case surrendering means giving up on earning enough to get ahead, since the government just takes it away.
The really funny thing is that if you don't work at all, the government sends YOU money! Isn't that a kick in the head? Punish productivity, reward uselessness. That's the government way for you.
Another way to get ahead is to buy a house, fix it up, and sell it two years later. You can make up to $500k TAX FREE every two years. I was going to start a business, but when I figured out how the tax code is set up, well, no new businesses for me. I just buy a house, move in, fix it up, live in it for two years, sell it, and keep the profits from the sales. Sure, moving every two years is a hassle, but the tax free profits sure make up for it.
You see, the goverment HATES productive people. This is why I've learned to quit being productive, and instead I've learned how to "game the system". Uncle Sam takes %50 of everything I make if I work for money, but if I improve properties and then sell them I can keep all of my profits. Gee, what do you think I should do with my time? Pursue business opportunities so that the government can steal half of what I earn, or fix up houses and keep %100 of the profits? Boy, that's hard to figure out.
But that's OK, there's lots and lots of people in India and China who are willing to come over and do the work that gets taxed at the %50 rate. Let them pay the taxes, until they wise up.