He IS one of the 1%'rs. The definition of 1% is the top 1% of income. If the OWS people had their way, he would have been completely ruined.
Can't you grasp that concept? I don't see the protesters making exemptions to the "special cases" of earners who fall into the one percent. What I do see is the demand that these 1% give them more of their money (without exception)!
And, before you ask, I don't think things are "fair" in government. But I don't agree that lies (like the poster of the income gap or the misrepresentation of everyone at the top 1% as psychopaths) will help with anything. I don't think that many things are fair in life but I won't lie to make my point.
The thing I don't get is why the OWS people take their complaint where it belongs, Washington!
I don't feel sorry for your friend at all. For those 50 years he was able to deduct everything related to his business. Cars, building depreciation, equipment depreciation, a portion of his house, vacations, business jet, and on and on and on. But we're always worried about small business. He sold his business and was taxed on only the gain at a long term capital gains rate which is lower than what the average joe pays.
You know a small business owner can go out and buy a hummer and deduct the whole ******* thing in one shot. You don't even have to be that smart to pay absolutely no taxes at all. The rich don't want to pay a "death" tax either. Then who the hell is going to pay. Average m'fers like all the guys hanging out here taking it up the ass.