'Stop Coddling the Super-Rich,' by Warren E. Buffett

[Newsjock]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/stop-coddling-the-super-rich.html?ref=opinion
By Warren E. Buffett

... While the poor and middle class fight for us in Afghanistan, and while most Americans struggle to make ends meet, we mega-rich continue to get our extraordinary tax breaks. Some of us are investment managers who earn billions from our daily labors but are allowed to classify our income as “carried interest,” thereby getting a bargain 15 percent tax rate. Others own stock index futures for 10 minutes and have 60 percent of their gain taxed at 15 percent, as if they’d been long-term investors.

These and other blessings are showered upon us by legislators in Washington who feel compelled to protect us, much as if we were spotted owls or some other endangered species. It’s nice to have friends in high places.

... For those making more than $1 million — there were 236,883 such households in 2009 — I would raise rates immediately on taxable income in excess of $1 million, including, of course, dividends and capital gains. And for those who make $10 million or more — there were 8,274 in 2009 — I would suggest an additional increase in rate.

My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress. It’s time for our government to get serious about shared sacrifice.

[highplainsdem]

1. K&R

[hedgehog]

2. Ya know, Mr. Buffet, in the meantime, would you like to refinance

my student loans and maybe drop the interest from 8 to 4%? It's not much, but it'd be a big help.

[my2sense]

3. K & R

[harun]

4. Wow, +10,000.

[patrice]

5. K&R

[mmonk]

6. Tell it Warren. You always have told it straight.

[Firebrand Gary]

7. Here is an example of leadership, from the SUPER RICH.

Thanks Mr Buffett

[amuse bouche]

8. Now That's A Patriot

Rec

[Kennah]

9. Because of Global Warming, how about we Super Cool the Super Rich? Two birds, one stone.

[Hissyspit]

10. kicked and recommended nt

[scheming daemons]

11. this is the kind of editorial that can start to shift the debate

Hearing this from Democratic lawmakers falls on deaf ears
.... even from the President.

But when guys like Buffet say it, people start to take notice.

[Schema Thing]

12. I hope so, but Ben Stein has said the same thing...

which amazing as it is, didn't get any traction.



And Buffet has been saying this for years. Bill Gates Sr. actually has an organization to work at getting the Estate Tax back to a higher level.



Maybe the timing will make his voice be the tipping point this time.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. Ben Stein? The batshit crazy creationist?

[Schema Thing]

14. The same. The fact that you aren't aware of it is my point exactly.