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Originally Posted by Brucelee
These same folks may also fit into the mold whereby the
"rich" or well off can't ever pay enough to be "fair".
So, with Bill Gates, he should have been at taxed at a 95% of income for example.
To others, fair means the same. For example, a Value added tax or a flat income tax...
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It's funny you should mention that. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet did a joint interview with some college students a while back. I caught it on PBS and I remember them talking about flat taxes. The interview is available on DVD I think, it's called "Buffett and Gates Go Back to School".
I wish I could find a transcript, all I found was
this one video on YouTube that's taking forever to load. It was a fascinating interview all around.
If my memory serves me correctly, one of the students asked them if they'd prefer a flat tax system. They both basically responded saying that no, they feel that the rich aren't taxed *enough* in this country and that anyone that's rich and complaining about being taxed too much is just being greedy.
I kid you not--they made no bones about it.
Additionally, Buffett said the following in another interview:
"The taxation system has tilted towards the rich and away from the middle class in the last ten years. It's dramatic and I don't think it's appreciated and I think it should be addressed."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/30/watch-warren-buffett-cal_n_70455.html
That video also has him talking about hedge fund managers:
"Well they say they work hard and that in the process of working hard they make other people money and,
[laughing] that's true about a whole bunch of people in the world but that doesn't entitle them to a preferential tax rate."
I was very impressed by their stances (and boy do I wish I had enough money to hold myself so righteously
), and it's probably the first time that I started seeing Bill as something other than the Anti-Christ.
But whoops, this is way off-topic now, sorry.