By Blackspeare, June 9 at 8:44 am Link to this comment

Govt. accounting details aren’t really the point here; if the rich wanna give to the
govt., it will accept - no matter what fosca; year it impacts the deficit.

My suggestion wasn’t to actually do that though, given the bureaucratic
inefficiency, lack of accountability, and lack of control such donors would have
over the distribution.  Instead, giving to specific organizations and charities is far
more efficient and effective.  Or just purchase domestic goods directly to cut
imports for example.  Use the money for good, not for government.  But to force
all wealthy to pay more in taxes leaves the decision making up to corrupt
politicians and an inefficient system.  That point seems lost on the show boaters
who made this video.

a51: Congresscritters they’ve already bought and paid for will never let it happen

So, get your duff out from behind a computer and militate politically that we vote those people Out of Office - rather than bitching-in-a-blog.

Yes, we can. He can’t, all alone. But, we can all together. Why in hell did we ever vote them into office?

I like what Mr Gates, Sr once said and I paraphrase, you can only sail one yacht at a time.

And don’t forget Warren Buffet’s telling comment about class warfare- there is and his side is winning.

It is a hard to swallow truth I know for our political elite, including our president, that up until a couple of decades or so ago, personal and corporate income tax rates were high and the tax code was designed to encourage investment- now it’s all about low tax rates, ship jobs overseas, pay little taxes using shell game tax shenanigans, and bring the profits back here virtually unscathed.

Am I missing something here?

I am sure if I am, that one of our many resident “elite” apologists will put me in my place.

All that ostentatious publicity belies the benevolence of the proposal—if any.  What’s that antique Christian notion about “Give in secret and your Father in Heaven will reward you openly?”

Great. Anybody believe these greedy lying thieves? They look fabulous up there making this pronouncement in public, almost like real people. Too bad it’s a dog and pony show. They are fully cognizant that the Congresscritters they’ve already bought and paid for will never let it happen, so they can stand up there at the press conference and lie through their teeth. Makes great press, but it’s completely meaningless. Their fortunes are quite safe from further taxation, and they know it. Otherwise, why not just write the nation a check, to be deposited in the general funding gotten from taxation? It’s all crap, people.

AN EPIPHANY

Americans have had for quite some time, by almost a 3 to 1 margin, the attitude that the rich should be taxed more in order to better Income Distribution in America.

See the time-line of a Gallup Poll on the question here.

So, it’s nice to see at that at least a few billionaires are having an epiphany regarding the matter of taxation. Of course, what is being discussed is just a few percentage points more, certainly not more than five.

When Reckless Ronnie, in fact, brought them crashing down to 30% from 70%. So, it is just a matter of throwing a few more crumbs to the sheeple. Nothing to get excited about.

The greater piece of the pie will remain with the exaggeratedly rich, as this serious analytical work here shows very well.

@ Blackspeare, June 9 at 8:44 am

Believe me if they wanted to pay down the deficit or more in taxes ‘THEY’ would find a way. This is ALL PROPAGANDA to keep the base dumber sharper than marbles.

This is deceit wrapped in a flag of pseudo-patriotism; remember the plan to tax all above a million that started at $400,000?

If they’re serious all they have to do is ask the government to fix all those tax loopholes and avoidances built into the code to keep the REALLY wealthy from having to pay more.

Why is it that a small tax increase is always hundreds of dollars yet a significant tax cut is a few pennies and nickles?

They’re after the income of the working man. Go after the capital gains where the REALLY wealthy make most of their money and we’ll hear the squeals.

This is all bull excrement ... only the middle class will be hit and we all know it.

Its nice to see Americans who still believe that the collective “We” is more important than a little bit of tax savings.  There is something about gaining a lot of money that makes it difficult to recall what it was like to have no money.  Its even more difficult for those raised with lots of money to really understand what its like to be poor.  Compassion, cooperation, and mutual success are good things.  All the Palin, Paul Revere stuff this last week got me thinking that the real message of Paul Revere, and the revolution is that we are only strong when we work together.  Those who made themselves rich, and those who were born rich owe the society which allows it to be possible.  If they neglect it for too long they will find their ivory towers won’t long stand, because once the poorest fall away the rest aren’t far behind.  We’re all in this together.

Last year, Bill Gates, Sr., a man in his 80’s and a long time resident of
Washington State, proposed a state income tax initiative that would tax people with incomes of 200,000.- and up. It would also reduce property taxes and benefit
small businesses. The money collected would go to education.  A group of
wealthy individuals mounted a well-endowed counter campaign that told the
public that such a tax would open the doors for the state to eventually
tax everyone—there’s no state income tax in Washington now.  Any change in
the tax status needs to be approved by the legislature. But the opposition
managed to instill fear in many voters who don’t make anywhere near
200,000.- The initiative went on the ballot and it was voted down.  This year
Washington State had to make deep cuts in the education budget.

Another example of working people voting against themselves, their families,
and their country.

@ Marshall and Lew…

Your argument that if the rich wanted to pay higher taxes they
should just donate money to the IRS is fallacious. It’s not quite
that simple——it’s all a matter of accounting.  Any money donated
to the US Gov’t is not wrapped-up in the overall annual accounting
and would do nothing to reduce the deficit.  In order for the money
to be accounted for it’s need to be included in an across the board
tax rate increase.  Like most businesses, the US Gov’t's
income/expense is projected a year or more ahead.  Giving money up
front in the current year does nothing——-that’s why they don’t do
it.

If rich people want to pay more taxes, the US govt. is happy to accept their
donations directly anytime - no need to pass laws mandating it. 

Better yet, why don’t these people give money directly to charitable organizations
and skip the govt. middle man and his exorbitant cut which funds mindless paper
shuffling and job justification by thousands of low skilled automaton bureaucrats.

Seriously - the cluelessness of those who think these higher taxes would solve
problems seems limitless.  Maybe they support it because they think it’ll lead to
bigger bailouts… for their own industries!

Holy Jesus don’t these people have any shame? They don’t want higher taxes on the rich. If the rich were so gung ho to pay higher taxes they would all be tripping over themselves trying to be the first in line at the IRS extra tax paying rich people line.

Let’s see how serious they really are … RAISE CAPITAL GAINS TAXES TO 80% AND LOWER DEATH TAX EXEMPTION TO ONE MILLION.

Now wait for the little piggies to start squealing.

ONLY IN AMEMRICA!