[KAI] RYSSDAL: If ever there was topic that rolled behavioral and economics all into one, it is taxes. Because really you don’t want to pay them. What is the temptation here, to maybe not pay taxes and cheat a little bit.
[DAN] ARIELY: Taxes, especially with the American system, is a kinda good test case for cheating. Where we have to pay taxes, and we realize it. We also realize it’s good to pay taxes on some level because the government does all kinds of things for us. At the same time, we have our selfish desires to pay as least as possible. And the tax code lets us play tricks with ourselves. So imagine you went out for dinner with your aunt, and she asked you how work was going, and you said, “Oh, it was going well,” and she gave you some suggestions about work. Can you not charge it as a business expense?
Why Not? When even the top appointees to Obama’s cabinet positions cheat or outright don’t pay taxes, then expect a hearty “oh, well, no problem, just do a good job!”.. What are we, the Average American, then to think when we see Willie Nelson or Wesley Snipes hounded by the government for back taxes?
Double Standard.