I should pay more tax, says US billionaire Warren Buffett

[Zkribbler]

That's not the question, I asked. Do you think that you should be taxed more?

If you mean me personally, and no one else, no...because that would be unfair.

If you mean that in general, people like me who could pay more, should pay more through a reformed system, then absolutely.

Buffet points out that the tax system is broken, that the super rich like him pay taxes at a lower tax rate than even his receptionist. What kind of bizarre system would place the tax burden on the hard-working middle class while letting the wealthiest citizens slip through the loop holes?

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Patroklos
Actually, most rich people give significant amounts of money to charities.

... which they then use as deductions on their taxes. wtg.

[Garth Vader]

Originally posted by Patroklos


Actually it is. Very bad things would happen to the rights of poor people when the rich basically own the government. The participation of the poor in the government through taxation is very important, it is basically their stake. If you think the rich don't care about the poor now (what they think actually), just wait once Buffet gets his way.



Actually, most rich people give significant amounts of money to charities.

Politicians care about who donates money to them, not to who pays tax.

[Patroklos]

Politicians care about who donates money to them, not to who pays tax.

Ummm....no. We are talking about rich people, not politicians. Most politicians are rich, most rich people are not politicians.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Lorizael
Sure, if you want, this thread can certainly be about quibbling over Buffet's words.

Well it is what I have to go on. I prefer to avoid reading minds when ever possible.

If you mean me personally, and no one else, no...because that would be unfair.

This wouldn't be forced. Just something you could willingly do. Would you do it?

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Lorizael
... which they then use as deductions on their taxes. wtg.

To be fair, they can only deduct a portion of what they donate.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Patroklos
Actually it is. Very bad things would happen to the rights of poor people if the rich basically own the government. The participation of the poor in the government through taxation is very important, it is basically their stake. If you think the rich don't care about the poor now (what they think actually), just wait until Buffet gets his way.

That's incredibly amusing. NO, we shouldn't raise the tax rates on the rich because then the government wouldn't care about the poor. So, for the poor, we are taxing the rich less than we should!

As stated, politicians care about special interests who give them contributions. I'm doubting that having to pay more in taxes, the rich are going to drastically increase their campaign contributions as well (except, perhaps, to organizations that fight tax increases ).

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Patroklos
Actually it is. Very bad things would happen to the rights of poor people if the rich basically own the government. The participation of the poor in the government through taxation is very important, it is basically their stake. If you think the rich don't care about the poor now (what they think actually), just wait until Buffet gets his way.

Obviously so. The more social-democracy you get, the more the wealthy get their way.

Actually, most rich people give significant amounts of money to charities.

These amounts are much smaller than what an increase in the highest tax bracket would deliver.

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
To be fair, they can only deduct a portion of what they donate.

Yeah, but this is a thread about taxes, and he's talking about charities.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Patroklos
Actually it is.

No, it's not. Buffet made an assertion (presumably true) about what percent of his income went to the government, saying it was too low, and the CoC responded with what proportion of all taxes came from the rich. Given the shape of the income distribution, that's 1) not terribly surprising and 2) not an indication that the rich shouldn't pay more.

Very bad things would happen to the rights of poor people if the rich basically own the government. The participation of the poor in the government through taxation is very important, it is basically their stake. If you think the rich don't care about the poor now (what they think actually), just wait until Buffet gets his way.

1) The rich already do own the government.

2) The poor already don't participate that much through taxation.

3) This wouldn't necessarily decrease their level of taxation.

[Patroklos]

That's incredibly amusing. NO, we shouldn't raise the tax rates on the rich because then the government wouldn't care about the poor. So, for the poor, we are taxing the rich less than we should!

Who said anything about government, I said the rich as a class. Though you make the follow on point, if the rich are the sole contributor to government revenue (I am going extreme here, more fun that way) they are the government, and what obligation/compasion should they feel for the common man?

I don't like making people slaves, or rather proles.

As stated, politicians care about special interests who give them contributions. I'm doubting that having to pay more in taxes, the rich are going to drastically increase their campaign contributions as well (except, perhaps, to organizations that fight tax increases ).

What are you on about?

This wouldn't necessarily decrease their level of taxation.

So what do you plan on spending all this money on? Or are we just raising taxes for the sake of raising taxes?

[Arrian]

Kuci (in this thread )

-Arrian

[Whoha]

Re: I should pay more tax, says US billionaire Warren Buffett

Was this before or after his major tax dodge?

[Imran Siddiqui]

if the rich are the sole contributor to government revenue (I am going extreme here, more fun that way) they are the government, and what obligation/compasion should they feel for the common man

So you don't think the rich are basically the government already? Oh yeah, I see all sorts of poor folk in the power positions. And yes, a lot of them don't feel the obligation or compassion for the common man, but I'd hope that morality would compel them, regardless of their personal tax levels.

[Patroklos]

Just because civic values are on the decline already does not mean we have to give it the knock out punch ourselves

I personally welcome our new fuedal society