Comments on: Super Rich Tax Cheats

By: Synoia

Synoia — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:58:39 +0000

JimMontague “and a war that your grandchildren are going to get stuck paying for” yes, Jim, you are an idiot.

Do you have a mortgage? If so what concerns you? The balance, or the monthly payments?

The problem with the national debt is the MONTHLY PAYMENTS (aka interest), that take money that could be productive (eg health care) and pays interest. It’s an evil pernicious scheme; who lends the government billions of dollars? The Rich. Who gets the interest? The Rich. Who pays the interest? The not Rich. It’s evil and pernicious because it transfers wealth FROM the not Rich (poor) to the RICH. It’s regressive.

Just like Social Security taxes, another regressive tax.

You really are an idiot. Do you have a statue or picture of St. Ronnie you pray to every day?

By: Synoia

Synoia — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:51:42 +0000

The problem with prop 13 is that is distorts what local governments do.

A City government looks at home as a burden, they cost the city money (police & fire). They look on the elderly as a burden (that cost emergency services), they look on bix box retailers as good (sale tax dollars), they look on offices as bad (property tax dollars), they look on strip malls as good (sales tax dollars), they look on manufacturing as bad (property tax dollars).

In other words, good jobs are bad, poorly paying jobs are good, and residents are bad, the elderly are bad, and commuting (don’t live in our town) is good.

So JimMontague, before you make rash comments, please think. Prop 13 is a social disaster. What was it about schools and libraries and police and fire and good jobs and the elderly Howard Jarvis hated?

By: GRITtv

GRITtv — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:01:58 +0000

Thanks for your comment. It really wasn’t meant as a slam on Warren Buffet. In fact, if you watch the video it is clear that Buffet carried out his little study knowing that the scales were tipped. That’s why he did it. Too bad his fellow Forbes 400 colleagues aren’t listening. Buffet may be in the same income bracket but he thinks that those who earn more should pay more. Especially if they’re earning millions. He is, however, the exception to the rule.

By: JimMontague

JimMontague — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:08:43 +0000

Warren Buffet may lean liberal, but there is something completely wrong with a system that creates over 500 billionaires in America and McMansions as far as the eye can see. As to Prop 13, what is wrong with paying little tax on your property? Perhaps the real problem is top heavy government, coupled with an out of control immigration problem, and a war that your grandchildren are going to get stuck paying for.

By: Mauimom

Mauimom — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:17:38 +0000

You really shouldn’t toss Warren Buffett in with the “tax dodgers.” The reason he did the comparison between his own tax rate and that of his employees was to point out how UNFAIR it was.

A few years ago, Gov. Schwartzenegger used him as a “tax advisor.” Buffett pointed out that because of California’s disastrous “Prop. 13″ [which severely limits increases in property taxes until a sale of the property], Buffett paid less in prop. tax on his $$$$ home in Laguna Beach than he did on his modest place in Omaha, NE. He recommended getting rid of Prop. 13. The Gov. promptly kicked him off the advice team.

In addition, Buffett takes a very small salary [minuscule compared to other CEOs]. He’s argued again and again about the unfairness of the US tax system.

Do your research before you slam someone who’s basically on your side.

By: Elliott

Elliott — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:01:38 +0000

The Bennett Brothers are a plague upon US.

By: EMPY

EMPY — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:59:22 +0000

It’s worse than many people think. Ask the people you know where they think they fall on the income ladder. Most that are making a comfortable middle class wage think they are in the top 5-10% and have no idea what they are talking about. They typically won’t believe you when you tell them they are somewhere in the back 75% when they make $75,000/yr.

Top 5% (2005 figures) start at $167,000/yr

This is why I think so many try to identify with the Republican brand. They see themselves as wealthy or almost wealthy and want to identify with the party of the rich. In doing so they will vote against their own interests time after time.

If your not part of that top 1%, they couldn’t care less about you and haven’t a clue what a day in your shoes is like.

By: Elliott

Elliott — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:56:05 +0000

The Lichtenstein List!

By: Imhotep

Imhotep — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:44:49 +0000

David Cay Johnston discusses the issue of how the wealthy andmany large corporations get away with a “Free Lunch”. This very readable and recommended book was featured on Bill Moyers Journal recently.

By: DWBartoo

DWBartoo — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:43:23 +0000

Hmm …

It’s worse than I thought.

Who could have imagined?

The top 1/10th of one percent.

They must be REALLY special!