How many times have you heard people grumble about taxes? Eventually, they get tired of simply complaining about how much money in taxes they have to pay and move on to how much money on taxes the rich DON’T have to pay. It can be frustrating, can’t it, knowing that people with less money get fewer breaks than people with loads of money? It’s frustrating because it isn’t fair. And if you happen to be one of the people on the low-income/high tax-percentage side, then you may experience some resentment.

Well, the fact is, no amount of grumbling and complaining is going to make the powers that be suddenly make things fair for you. This is because of the Golden Rule: “He who has the gold, makes the rules.” Chances are, they are going to make the rules in their favor. They’re going to keep all the good tax breaks to themselves. They are going to tell you there just isn’t enough money to go around, even as you watch so many people drive around in so many expensive cars and eat in so many posh restaurants. Even politicians who promise tax breaks to the downtrodden masses– even the ones who are sincere in their desire to help the average working stiff– are limited in their ability to affect the system.

That’s why you are going to have to take action. Don’t be one of the downtrodden masses. If you want more money, you are going to have to go get it yourself. And yes, you too can get more money in the form of tax breaks.

Robert Kiyosaki, author of the “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” books, makes the sensible suggestion that those who are not rich but would like to be should watch what the rich do, and then do the same. You don’t really need to watch too closely, however, to learn the open secret of the wealthy– that secret is real estate.

Kiyosaki’s book “Cash Flow Quadrant,” is centered around the titular diagram, which consists of a square split into four quarters labeled ‘E’ (employee), ‘S’ (self-employed), ‘I’ (investing) ‘B’ (business). These four categories not only describe the four ways in which individuals make their money, but also provides insight into how an individual’s personality factors into the way in which they think about money.

According to Robert Kiyosaki, the real money is in the business and investment quadrants of the Cash Flow Quadrant.

It’s best to take an “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” attitude towards the wealthy– there’s no way you’re ever going to beat them, so the next best thing is to become one of them. Know also that the rich aren’t simply lucky; if you follow the examples set by rich people, you can become one of them, and you can get the tax breaks that they are able to get.

This is how you become rich: put money into investments and let that money multiply as you sit back and watch. You can, of course, continue working as an employee while your investments make you money, but Kiyosaki believes that the more profitable path is to venture into the ‘B’ quadrant and formulate a business model that will help you to create wealth with minimum effort on your part. The most important thing, though, is that you do invest.

So, invest– invest in apartments, condos, vacation homes, whatever suits your fancy. This is the true, time-tested road to wealth.