Tax evasion is in the news as the leak of papers from a Panama law firm reveals that hundreds of thousands of rich people evaded taxes.

Likewise, the president is changing the rules to make it harder for corporations like Pfizer to hide profits overseas. But the fact is, hundreds of the wealthiest U.S. corporations — including Apple, GE, Microsoft, Verizon and Google — have used loopholes to evade paying taxes.

They’re freeloaders, enjoying the benefits of living in America (laws, safety, research, wars, education and bailouts) but not having to pay their fair share. In fact, the Washington state tax system is a huge scam that makes poor and middle-class people pay a much higher proportion of their income in state taxes than do the rich. What we have is socialism for the rich.

Donald A. Smith

Bellevue