Hey Warren, write a check!

Warren Buffett is back with his "please tax me more" inanity. This time it's an op-ed in The New York Times. One of my liberal-leaning Facebook buds sent me the link this morning.

Sigh.

I've already covered the you-can-pay-more-anytime-you-want angle. But it's worth repeating.

Anyone who wants to can voluntarily pay more taxes anytime they want! Simply make your check payable to "Bureau of the Public Debt" and mail it to the IRS. No muss, no fuss, no tax increase necessary.

In fact, this morning on MSNBC Pat Buchanan challenged Warren Buffett to do just that.

PAT BUCHANAN: No, I'm writing a note to Warren Buffett. But look, I'm a little fed up with these people who come on, you know, their big op-eds, all these admonitions. Why doesn't he set an example and send a check for $5 billion to the federal government? He's got about $40 billion. You get all this noise from these big rich folks. Let them send checks and set an example instead of writing op-eds.

They write op-eds because they aren't serious. But when I pointed out this hypocrisy on my buddy's Facebook page, another of his friends chimed in:

He's got the right, or should I say, correct, idea in my opinion. He's also a very decent man. Maybe you could learn a thing or two from him, but probably not since greedy minds are closed.

Yes, I could indeed learn a thing or two from Warren Buffett. Like how to avoid paying taxes. What, do you think Warren got rich by sending big checks to Uncle Sam? Hell, no! He got rich because he has an army of accountants to find loopholes and legions of lobbyists to ensure that his investments always receive the most favorable tax treatment.

What Warren Buffett really wants is for everyone else to pay more taxes. Besides, Tax The Rich doesn't work. Obama could take every last dime they have and it still wouldn't pay for even one year's worth of federal spending.

The only way, The! Only! Way!, to increase tax revenues is to grow the economy. When more people are working and earning money and starting businesses aggregate tax revenues will go up. A lot.

Warren Buffett knows this. But if he said it the Times wouldn't publish his op-ed, nor would he get his own Memeorandum thread.

Here's a fun fact. Warren Buffett has already structured his estate so that his entire fortune goes to charity when he dies. Uncle Sam won't get five cents in estate tax revenue from him! Does that sound like a guy who wants to pay more taxes?

Go ahead Warren, be a Big Shot. Write a check. And then, STFU.

Posted at 10:42 by Chris Wysocki   [/economy]   Comments | Perm Link |
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