‘Drain the swamp?’ We’re drowning in it

To the Times:

Does anyone believe that it’s simply coincidental that Donald Trump’s and Jared Kushner’s family businesses are in real estate and real estate was the only industry that did not lose the tax benefits associated with depreciating capital assets, like buildings? Now, it has been revealed that Jared Kushner, a man reputedly worth over $300 million, has likely used this deduction to avoid paying any federal income taxes for years. Legal yes, ethical perhaps, but it does not pass the “smell test.” It’s no great leap to suppose that Kushner’s father-in-law, Donald Trump, used the very same scheme to avoid or greatly minimize the taxes he has paid as well. Of course, since Trump has never revealed his tax returns to the American public

we may never know the truth.

If this is “draining the swamp,” may God help us. Seems more like the swamp creatures have taken over Washington and the swampiest creature of them all is our president. Many people knew that the Republican tax law favored the wealthy, but, few realized how it was crafted to especially favor one industry (real estate development) over all others. Trump has perverted the power of his office to increase his and family’s wealth, and, it is simply immoral and wrong. Of course, the president is laughing at our naivete all the way to the bank.

Ken Derow, Swarthmore