John Rawls argues that citizen self-respect is the most important primary social good; I fully concur. In consequence, we ought to be deeply concerned about policies that undermine, or even eviscerate, self-respect. Especially important among these threats are various injustices in the income tax code. Complex and arcane provisions—treating hedge fund profits as “carried interest,” the “stepped-up basis” for assessing capital gains, the operation of “family offices” designed to preserve excessive wealth and power—are indefensible. The tax burden on ordinary citizens is unjustly increased, to lighten the load on the UltraWealthy, and consequently the institutions that enhance self-respect are woefully underfunded. Citizen cognizance of these injustices leads to divisiveness, disillusionment, anger and despair.