Trillion dollar war, from budget surplus to nearly $500b deficit, $700b bailout etc... I can see the inherent "fairness" and attractiveness of choosing the option of saying "we should all pay equally" - but what I don't get is that the last 8 years, the benefits were largely conferred upon one specific class. As it's time to pay the piper - who should pay? The ones who benefitted from the largesse or those that didn't? - another issue is that the middle & lower class simply can't pay much more without getting economically devastated even worse than they already are. Not a lot of other options.
It doesn't matter who "should" pay. We're all going to. Whomever takes office is going to have to break this to the people. And they will do this knowing full well that the "hidden" tax; ie. inflation, has already begun.
I think we should put a progressive tax on percieved studliness. That way FFB will pay about 34 billion / year. It's patriotic.
Great, then let them do their share, I am already doing mine, I don't need to see my tax rate jacked up again.
Not to be critical of either one of them, but they are allowed to voluntarily pay extra taxes. Yet instead of doing so, they both employ accountants and tax lawyers who help to make sure they pay the minimum amount of tax they lawfully must pay. I cannot blame them for trying to minimize their tax burden; I do the same thing. I just think it is a little hypocritical when Buffet talks about taxes and how little he must pay (percentage wise) compared to his secretary, that he does not fix the disparity by just paying extra.
"jacked up AGAIN! " LOL - you haven't had a rate increase in decades. This incredibly modest proposal would take us back to the rate of the 90's - the best (and fairest) economic expansion in american history. Meanwhile, last month, you were a prominent voice in arguing the government assume hundreds of billions/trillions of potential liabilities. you can't have it both ways, deepblue - there is no more: "buy now pay later" - that was the policy the last 8 years. It's over. You want an AAA rated government to ride to the rescue? Be prepared to pay for it.
Ok fine "jacked up" then. Its not like Obama is proposing a multi-billionaire tax rate. My financial situation has a lot more in common with the middle class than is with Buffet. "Buy now pay later" is not just the policy of last 8 years, its the policy of American consumers.
you're right, american consumers are the reason for extreme deficits and the increase of government over the last eight years
these guys are just in extreme denial about tax cuts for wealthy + bush's liberal spending has been disasterous
You got to draw the line somewhere, and sorry, but 250k is out of reach for most of America and makes one pretty well off. Sorry Pal, You're Rich
