Having discouraged a lot of economic activity with high rates, they turned around and gave taxpayers a break in certain politically favored activities. You might think it would be easier to get rid of the loopholes, but if you do, you just don't get it. The point isn't logic. As somebody once remarked, the only benefit to logical thinking is the refreshing contrast it offers to reality. The point is campaign contributions.
Loopholes offer a fantastic way to shake down targeted industries for campaign contributions.
Meanwhile, any suggestion that the tax code be simplified is shouted down as simplistic. So what if even ordinary people have to pay exorbitant sums to lawyers and accountants to figure it all out. Well, as many of us were reminded over Easter weekend, you have to be pretty smart and sophisticated to fill out a 1040. Thomas Bray is a Detroit News columnist who is published on Sunday and Wednesday.