Let’s Not Admire Tax Avoidance

I was appalled by “Loophole Wizard Is Key to Chandler-Tribune Rift” (June 23), which idolizes Thomas Unterman for his brilliant tax evasion techniques and [quotes] highly respected Robert Willens of Lehman Bros., who said Unterman’s action “was deemed such a threat to the Treasury that Congress had to close the loophole” and “that’s pretty much the definition of a successful tax-planning technique.”

Well, shame on both of them and shame on the peers that validate these two. This is another example of misguided morality at its pinnacle and yet we continue to praise them.

Until we stop hearing accolades for deceptive practices, things will not change.

The Milkens, Lays, Kozlowskis and Ebberses are only a minuscule sampling of the recent misguided leaders who could have contributed so much to America but were instead lured down a path of power, deceit and greed.

Bruce Gillette

Irvine