I'll agree with that - I was being pretty general in my comment, and, as with anything, it's not such an easy issue.

Plus...honestly, my liberal arts educated-mind probably couldn't wrap itself around anyting more complex than that.

I think a lot of us who like getting refunds lack the self discipline to save unless they are basically compelled to through withholding. (compelled is too strong since you could adjust deductions or whatever, but if you're kind of paying it safe since you don't want to run the risk of owing. . .) And I think KSigRC is completely right about rates of spending and savings in this group if I'm at all typical.

And I agree about citizen legislators. I wouldn't want an imperfect tax record to be a disqualifying trait in itself, but at some point it starts to seem as if some of the very folks who want others to pay for programs are unwilling to make comparable sacrifices themselves.

It also bothers me more in some of the recent cases when it seems that the income and lifestyle elements that create the tax "complications" are unlikely to be issues faced by the majority of tax payers: household staff, paid drivers, resort property. Sure, these may be common in the highest brackets, but I think it's fundamentally less sympathetic than relatively assessments based on miscalculations with self employment or late payments that were paid before a high profile appointment or run for office was attempted.

I work in accounting and I can't say that I blame them.

ETA: If you are going to be sec. of commerence or sec. of the treasury though, everything should be in order

I have absolutely no faith in Obama's cabinet.