Yesterday, His Royal Highness Warren Buffett, Duke of Omaha and Victor of Wall Street, graced the Circle City with his august presence, as he dispensed a benefice to the peasantry in the form of low-income living quarters which are, for the nonce at least, very tastefully landscaped and painted. Courtiers, pages and heralds made the appropriate bowings and scrapings and appreciative murmurings at the generosity of the great man.
Not one reporter dared examine the emperor's new threads by asking him how much of a tax deduction he would be claiming in exchange for his philanthropy.
(I'm actually a little surprised that Duke Taxmemore did not call out local nobles Earl Simon, Baron Irsay and his squire Peyton, and some of the more notable knights of Lilly and challenge them to a joust in the charitable lists...)
.
But he's the one telling us he wants to pay more taxes! I'm confused.
ReplyDeleteIf Warren wants to give more money to the government, why does he have to lobby to get the tax code re-written? Why can't he just write a m%^$#@f&*ing check?
ReplyDeleteTam,
ReplyDeleteI've asked the same question of an aquaintance of mine who has the same complaint about the tax code. His response is that it won't be used correctly if he just sends a check to the Treasury Dept (BTW, there is a specific place to send such funds).
Even better, because he and his wife are military (mil band that is), after all their deductions and such, they end up paying no taxes. They claim that is what's wrong with the country. I, on the other hand, was not as blessed and paid a hefty 5-figure amount. He used the money most would spend on taxes to buy another high-end bike (bike geek like myself). No, I'm not bitter at the guy who doesn't pay taxes but claims we don't pay enough taxes.
Chris
I don't usually waste my time watching the, ahem "news" in the morning. Today I got up early and flipped it on and was similarly disgusted at the lack of a gag reflex the local newsies showed in regards to Mr. Buffet.
ReplyDeleteI keep telling anyone who says we should pay more that USTD would gladly take their check. Nobody seems to want to do this, which I find confusing.
...which are, for the nonce at least, very tastefully landscaped and painted....
ReplyDeleteAh, the New Urbanism: "This time, it will be totally different! Our Le Corbu cellblocks have quaint architectural gingerbread, and latte stands!"
(Until the next Five-Year Plan says "Cain't afford latte nor no maint'nance on no gingerbread, so sorry.")
Hmmm. According to the news story, only a few Units will be available to the "Truly Poor". Sounds like its just another case of Gentrification to me. Of course, if some Republican Developer came out and turned around a Blighted Neighborhood, the DemaCommies would be up in arms screaming "Where are you going to put the Poor People who used to live here?" But since Jimmy Warren Buffett is a "Special Friend" of the Anointed One....
ReplyDeleteWhen you may owe a billion dollars in late taxes Mr Buffett, you pretty much vacated the moral high ground.
ReplyDeletePeople in glass mansions should not throw manure.
Gerry
Its always the worst when the pointy-heads like to disguise Socialism as Altruism.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, Lots of deductions on the tax returns of those who think we all need to pay more taxes.
Uh, excuse me. As I read the story in the Red Star, Mr. Buffet LOANED money to a non-profit to build this project. So, he'll get paid back with interest. No charity involved.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the figures in the article, each dwelling costs nearly $105,000. I don't know of anywhere that $800/mo. would cover rent on that.
ReplyDelete