F. George McDuffee wrote:

The rich folks’ low tax rate shouldn’t come as too big a
surprise. As I pointed out here, because of the historically
low 15% rate on long term capital gains (compared to a top
tax rate of 35% for ordinary income, like salary) the 400
highest income Americans now pay a lower effective federal
income tax rate than the merely well paid. In 2007, the 400
derived two thirds of their average adjusted gross income of
$345 million from capital gains and paid an average
effective rate of just 16.6%.

You mean those rich people investing in tax free municipal bonds? If some one pays into
social security above the cut off value, would the government accept it, would the
government give them a larger than legislated retirement benefit?

Wes