[MrB]

I see a lot of “perverse incentives” in there, Dave...

Basically, due to the taxing structure, your accountant advised you to stop using your experience, talents and abilities to serve your fellow man because the taxation would be prohibitive.

Sad.

[Grampa Dave]

You are correct.

My wife and I were rewarded for being hardworking parents, who raised successful children with a tax system that left us with about 40% of what we earned after taxes.

Then. living in Californicator land, we paid sales tax on everything but food in the grocery stores after that.

Next, there were the so called hidden taxes known as fees for our vehicles and other things.

So our so called being rich, 6 figure income was whacked down to not that great of a 5 figure income. Also, due to the Fica penalties, I stopped paying into the system. As and independent contractor, I was paying double Fica taxes. So the system due to its penalties lost any more contributions/taxes from me.