The conversation is breaking down along the usual tribal lines, here. I don't believe that anyone is condemning or in favor of punishing the OP for having a high income. My DH worked half a year last year and substantially out-earned the couple. Like the OP and his wife, we spent a lot of years under the wing of the University of California (in our case) and like them we view our taxes as paying back what we owe. We're lucky that we've avoided the judicial system, disability programs, and many of the other governmental programs that we also pay for, but they are there for us if we need them.
The very, very wealthy and the very, very poor pay a smaller portion of their income in taxes. Those of us in between pay roughly the same total percentage. I don't begrudge the very, very poor. My late in-laws suffered from psychiatric disease and DH was hospitalized on the state's dime a ciuple of times and probably received food stamps. While it would have saved the state some short term tax expense to let the little taker see if he could make it on his own, in the long run the investment paid off handsomely.
People who are interested in pondering the tribal divide might enjoy "Albion's Seed". Red was red and blue was blue long before there were states. My ancestors, having survived the first winter, promptly passed tax laws for the purpose of supporting mandatory public education.
The answer to the OP is "become a hedge fund manager".
The very, very wealthy and the very, very poor pay a smaller portion of their income in taxes. Those of us in between pay roughly the same total percentage. I don't begrudge the very, very poor. My late in-laws suffered from psychiatric disease and DH was hospitalized on the state's dime a ciuple of times and probably received food stamps. While it would have saved the state some short term tax expense to let the little taker see if he could make it on his own, in the long run the investment paid off handsomely.
People who are interested in pondering the tribal divide might enjoy "Albion's Seed". Red was red and blue was blue long before there were states. My ancestors, having survived the first winter, promptly passed tax laws for the purpose of supporting mandatory public education.
The answer to the OP is "become a hedge fund manager".