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Showing Original Post only (View all)Stephen King: Tax Me, for F@%&’s Sake! [View all]
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/30/stephen-king-tax-me-for-f-s-sake.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thedailybeast%2Fpolitics+%28The+Daily+Beast+-+Politics%29
Stephen King: Tax Me, for F@%&s Sake!
Apr 30, 2012 4:45 AM EDT
The iconic writer scolds the superrich (including himselfand Mitt Romney) for not giving back, and warns of a Kingsian apocalyptic scenario if inequality is not addressed in America.
snip//
Tough shit for you guys, because Im not tired of talking about it. Ive known rich people, and why not, since Im one of them? The majority would rather douse their dicks with lighter fluid, strike a match, and dance around singing Disco Inferno than pay one more cent in taxes to Uncle Sugar. Its true that some rich folks put at least some of their tax savings into charitable contributions. My wife and I give away roughly $4 million a year to libraries, local fire departments that need updated lifesaving equipment (jaws of life are always a popular request), schools, and a scattering of organizations that underwrite the arts. Warren Buffett does the same; so does Bill Gates; so does Steven Spielberg; so do the Koch brothers; so did the late Steve Jobs. All fine as far as it goes, but it doesnt go far enough.
What charitable 1-percenters cant do is assume responsibilityAmericas national responsibilities: the care of its sick and its poor, the education of its young, the repair of its failing infrastructure, the repayment of its staggering war debts. Charity from the rich cant fix global warming or lower the price of gasoline by one single red penny. That kind of salvation does not come from Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Ballmer saying, Okay, Ill write a $2 million bonus check to the IRS. That annoying responsibility stuff comes from three words that are anathema to the Tea Partiers: United American citizenry.
snip//
I guess some of this mad right-wing love comes from the idea that in America, anyone can become a Rich Guy if he just works hard and saves his pennies. Mitt Romney has said, in effect, Im rich and I dont apologize for it. Nobody wants you to, Mitt. What some of us wantthose who arent blinded by a lot of bullshit persiflage thrown up to mask the idea that rich folks want to keep their damn moneyis for you to acknowledge that you couldnt have made it in America without America. That you were fortunate enough to be born in a country where upward mobility is possible (a subject upon which Barack Obama can speak with the authority of experience), but where the channels making such upward mobility possible are being increasingly clogged. That its not fair to ask the middle class to assume a disproportionate amount of the tax burden. Not fair? Its un-f--king-American, is what it is. I dont want you to apologize for being rich; I want you to acknowledge that in America, we all should have to pay our fair share. That our civics classes never taught us that being American means thatsorry, kiddiesyoure on your own. That those who have received much must be obligated to paynot to give, not to cut a check and shut up, in Gov. Christies words, but to payin the same proportion. Thats called stepping up and not whining about it. Thats called patriotism, a word the Tea Partiers love to throw around as long as it doesnt cost their beloved rich folks any money.
This has to happen if America is to remain strong and true to its ideals. Its a practical necessity and a moral imperative. Last year, during the Occupy movement, the conservatives who oppose tax equality saw the first real ripples of discontent. Their response was either Marie Antoinette (Let them eat cake) or Ebeneezer Scrooge (Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?). Short-sighted, gentlemen. Very short-sighted. If this situation isnt fairly addressed, last years protests will just be the beginning. Scrooge changed his tune after the ghosts visited him. Marie Antoinette, on the other hand, lost her head.
Think about it.
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Scrooge was fictional? I suppose you're going to tell me that some guy just made him up!
Kablooie
Apr 2012
#38
Actually they are not giving you gas but rather are nothing more than offensive methane
Dragonfli
May 2012
#70
I started reading that, God it must have been 25 years ago, I waited for the next one for ten years
Dragonfli
May 2012
#90
But SS and Medicare do not come out of the general fund. Which is my point.
Hassin Bin Sober
May 2012
#87
I absolutely LOVE the idea of everyone starting out in life with the same equity.
valerief
Apr 2012
#40
Of all the artists in the world, I'd most like to have a long heart to heart with Stephen King.
Zorra
Apr 2012
#58
Ecxellent, Mr King. Now write a really really scary novel about the 1/10th of 1%
Dont call me Shirley
Apr 2012
#60
Sorry, not good enough. He has to fight as hard for it as the right-wingers are fighting
saras
May 2012
#89
"he can, at any time, donate his entire fortune" - - funny, that's the rethugs' line. Hmmm. nt
babylonsister
May 2012
#93