Gene, you're a dumbass.
The reason Cheney's income changed had nothing to do with tax cuts and everything to do with how he made his money: WAGES vs. CAPITAL GAINS.
The capital gains rate is 15%. Same as it was during Clinton. If 100% of your income comes from capital gains (stock, interest, etc.) you pay 15%.
Cheney sold off his Haliburton stock to avoid conflict of interest. That income was taxed at 15% (as it would have under Clinton).
I have tried to explain this to you before, using simple words even, how the INCOME TAX RATE is not the way to get "the rich" to pay in more.
Let me give you an example even you might undrestand:
I could have my business "loan" me $1 million dollars. I could then take that $1 million and put it in a municipal CD that bears around 5.5% interest. That would be $55,000 in income from that. My tax rate: 15%.
This is, btw, how John "Two Americas" Edwards does things. He pays himself through his investments and avoids paying income taxes.
If you want to pay more in taxes, by all means, volunteer to pay more. I am definitely not undertaxed.
I find it highly offensive that the day after I had to write the government a 6 figure check in taxes (after having paid nearly 7 figures in estimated taxes already) to have someone like you telling me I should be paying more even as you sit back on your ass demanding more giveaways for others that I should pay for.