I don't know Mark and can't comment on his essay or this article.

I can, however, note that on at least 3 different occasions in the last year or so I've read a heartfelt essay on somebody making sacrifices for the common good -- only to later realize they were just setting up a tax dodge.

I do not think these things are mutually exclusive. You can both work for the common good while trying to legally avoid paying taxes. Heck, I'd rather smart people actively and passionately manage their money for the greater good, especially people with a track record of doing great things. More power to them. But I can relate that as a reader, once I finally figured it out what was going on, I was very disappointed. It was not a pleasant experience.