Time for the rich to give back
Tax me for fuck’s sake! Stephen King scolds the superrich, including himself, for not giving back.
What charitable 1 percenters can’t do is assume responsibility—America’s 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 can’t fix global warming or lower the price of gasoline by one single red penny.
Mr. King, keeping it real.
May 1st, 2012 at 11:02 am
The statement that charity from the top 1% of income earners can’t fix the failing of America to live up to its’ national responsibilities but, the same group paying higher taxes can, is only true if the following conditions are also true. 1} The 1% donate to a charity rather than overpaying their taxes (which they are free to do though they may not get a tax write-off, however that seems to be the goal in this scenario). 2} The US Government will spend the increased tax revenue in a more efficient or effective way than a charity set up to address the same problem will (which based on past performance seems doubtful). 3} The US Government will choose a more effective or efficient method of solving said problems than charities set up to address them will (again not to pick on the Government but doubtful). I think we would be far better served if we redirected the ire from the wealthy onto the seemingly incompetent system everyone is paying into. The ideal outcome (In my decidedly unprofessional opinion) would be to first put the government’s existing supply of money to better use, and then, only if necessary, figure out where to get more from.
Sincerely,
Ben (I always vote democrat but I really wish they all didn’t suck)