Doug R, yes that was the basic idea of democracy, originally, that those who were well off would give something back. What offends you about that? What's wrong with that? What if we didn't pay them? We'd wind up only with people who believed in what they were doing? Yikes. Or pay them what an infantry soldier and his or her life is worth. Who can give back more than that? But then, where would we be without cynicism and mendacity in our government?

   I'll trade taxes with you Kim C, but I warn you, I wouldn't have thought to mention 100K.