Tax avoidance

EDITOR: K.D. Budrow ("Say no to taxes," Letters, Wednesday) implies that there are 360 agencies in California and therefore much waste. I wonder if Budrow has taken the time to go through the budgets for each of these agencies. I'm sure there is some waste, but after years of cutbacks, there probably isn't $16 billion worth.

I'd suggest that Budrow look at the other side: tax avoidance. Take Apple computer, for example. It makes more than $1 billion a day but pays very little in taxes to the state or federal governments. Apple makes its products in China, paying no wages to Americans who would spend their money in this country, promoting growth and increasing the tax base. Apple reports its domestic sales through a subsidiary in Reno, drastically cutting its tax bill in California and 20 other states.

Tax avoidance has been developed into an art form, and, as a result, the states and federal government are suffering. The cry of no more taxes is misguided and misses the real problem - the manipulation of the tax code by the well-lawyered.

TOM PARETO

Petaluma