First published 1994
Donald L. Barlett and his co-author dissect the American tax system from top to bottom. The Pulitzer Prize winners who exposed corporate America's failures in their previous bestseller now turn their investigative skills to taxation. They examine federal tax policy, state revenue systems, and local government funding mechanisms. The authors document specific inequities that allow wealthy individuals and corporations to avoid their fair share while middle-class families bear disproportionate burdens. Through detailed case studies and data analysis, they reveal how tax loopholes, special exemptions, and preferential treatment create a system that works against ordinary Americans. The book shows readers exactly how current tax policies perpetuate economic inequality and offers a clear-eyed view of what needs to change.
Genres: business, american, politics, economics, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism
Setting: America
384 pages · Paperback · Simon & Schuster