tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394855748022311882.post9172865248212684372..comments2024-03-21T03:29:36.000-04:00Comments on Dr. Goose's Economical Limericks: Mr. Buffett, His Secretary & Their Tax RatesDr. Goosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18301105891892298426noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394855748022311882.post-48424693499403626962012-02-02T09:01:37.110-05:002012-02-02T09:01:37.110-05:00I'm amazed how many smart people resort to spo...I'm amazed how many smart people resort to sports analogies that really don't fit. Warren Buffet is so far and away wealthier than the average "rich" person, that a better analogy would involve Tiger Woods (some years ago) and golf.<br /><br />The wallet is the most sensitive part of the anatomy. As such, no ready analogy applies. He should lead by example, and not wait, as liberals are wont to do, for the state to impose desired social change.Jonathan Lawryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542562336807532523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394855748022311882.post-4917610599941536992012-01-31T17:44:27.670-05:002012-01-31T17:44:27.670-05:00I'm amazed by how many smart people make this ...I'm amazed by how many smart people make this silly argument. Buffett, as a rational businessman, seeks to maximize his utility within the current system, therefore he pays the tax that he owes, and no more. He also thinks that the system should be changed so that his class shoulders more of the burden of paying for our national security (border, health, old age, etc.). If policy were to change as he thinks it should, he would still pay just what he owes and no more, but he would owe a higher amount.<br /><br />Suppose Pat Riley were to complain that the NBA shot clock is too long and it slows down the game. Should people say: "Pat, you hypocrite, why don't the Heat complete all of their shots in 20 seconds?" No, because it is obvious that Pat wants not to set an example, but for all teams to play by a better set of rules.Dr. Goosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18301105891892298426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394855748022311882.post-27464666175496886652012-01-31T12:24:36.837-05:002012-01-31T12:24:36.837-05:00I'm intrigued by Mr. Buffett's position, a...I'm intrigued by Mr. Buffett's position, and find his current position hypocritical, in light of the conditions he put on his Gates Foundation contribution (on the Foundation's own website at: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/Pages/implementing-warren-buffetts-gift.aspx):<br /><br />"The foundation must continue to satisfy the legal requirements qualifying Warren’s gift as charitable, exempt from gift or other taxes."<br /><br />Why go to this trouble? Here was a perfect case in which he had an opportunity to pay the higher tax rates he claims to crave, but explicitly chose to avoid them.Jonathan Lawryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542562336807532523noreply@blogger.com