[legion]

One thing our politicians seem not to understand is that when the cost of compliance is too high, people will be willing to spend less money to get around the law.

For example, let's say that the income tax was set at 1% with no deductions and no exceptions. Compliance would be close to 100% because the cost of avoiding it would almost certainly be higher. (This is an example to illustrate a point and not intended start an argument about optimal tax rates.)