Capital Gains and Games

I like the tenor of your proposal, but I would be interested in two tweaks: (1) Why should Brian Urlacher or your favorite CEO pay lower payroll taxes than you or I? I never liked the regressive nature of payroll taxes. Why limit the income level that is taxed? I would eliminate the cap and use extra revenues to fund the private accounts, with any extra going to reducing the overall taxation level. (2) Why should any retiree (sports star, CEO, or retired speculator) who receives more than 200k/yr in passive income also receive SS benefits? I would phase out benefits (not just lower the rate of increase) for those earning over 100k (as I expect to) so that those over 200k/yr do not receive benefits. Any surplus would first fund private accounts and then go to lowering the overall tax rate. Private accounts would stay with beneficiaries regardless of income.