Want to increase taxes... step right up and increase your 'contribution'

[dsummoner]

Source:

Several months ago, an ad hoc consortium of self-proclaimed millionaires, sent a letter to Obama, Reid and Boehner, demanding that "for the fiscal health of our nation and the well-being of our fellow citizens, we ask that you increase taxes on incomes over $1,000,000." This grass roots initiative was formed in the aftermath of Warren Buffett's, since defunct, proposal to impose a "millionaire tax" rule. Of course, back then, as now, someone actually did the math and realized what the impact of such as tax would be in the grand scheme of the next decade of deficits, as we reported previously, and as summarized below (chart through the link). One can see why not only the "Buffett Rule" but any attempt to balance the budget without collapsing government spending, would at best result in laughter, at least for those who who are still proficient with the occasional abacus...

Luckily, as all these very much informed millionaires know quite well, the US Treasury has a dedicated section, named simply pay.gov, which allows anyone: billionaires (here's looking at you Mr. Buffett), millionaire, or even thousandaire (yes, you), to make a donation which is used directly to pay down the US debt. Because in the absence of the government mandating rich people pay their "fair share" (as determined by a subcommittee of course) for now at least, there is always that other alternative: voluntary action, as per the auspices of something called free will. And not only that, but the US Treasury also provides the general public with a running tally of just how much "Patriotic Millionaire" initiatives have given so far to paying down said debt. As in talk is cheap, signing petitions even cheaper, but putting money where your mouth is actually does go to the bottom line. The bottom line so far in 2012? $7.7 Million - this is how much has been volunteered in total gifts to pay down the US debt.

Surely this must be a typo... with all of the Libbies, with their new-found Reich-wing jingoism, clamoring for tax increases, surely they have all stepped right up, voluntarily increased their taxes and paid their 'fair share' for their spending priority of massive central government... oh wait... they want tax increases on other people in order to take OPM to pay for their spending priorities (priorities that are not so much of a priority when it comes to their own funds).

Surely, however, they will correct their spending priorities and pay for the 'services' that they want. Just a few simple steps.

1. Go to pay.gov
2. Click on the 'by agency name' under the 'Find Public Forms' heading.
3. Click on the hyperlink for the letter 'T.'
4. Click on the hyperlink for 'Treasury Department.'
5. Click on the hyperlink for 'Bureau of Public Debt.'
6. Click on the hyperlink for 'Gifts to Reduce the Public Debt.'

Alternatively: click on the following:

https://pay.gov/paygov/forms/formIns...ormId=23779454

7. Fill out the form and pay your 'fair share' for the country.

[Sagittarius]

"Fair share" my butt! Take your check and give you an allowance.

[dsummoner]

One can't expect anybody (except for the select few) to be able to manage any aspect of their lives without government approval. This in turn takes a bureaucracy of untold legions and costs money. May it be sacrilege that someone decides to eat anything without at least three levels of government bureaucracy making that decision for them... or deciding upon what (if any) utensil(s) they should use... or determining the amount and rate at which they consume said government approved culinary item using said government approved utensils. The poor dears, without government, might choke (oh the horrors of assault food equipped with pistol grips, bayonet lugs and flash suppressors) and who would be around to burp them and change their diapers?!?

Of course, when it comes to prattling tubs of goo such as the Buttfat of Omaha (whose holdings made billions on the making whole of his gambling debts on the financial sector)...

But certainly hold your breath, because these same people, all of whom are very intimately aware of the details of offshore tax havens, have armies of accountants whose jobs are precisely to find creative ways to minimize their tax obligations, and, not to mention, numerous Swiss bank accounts, if not so aware of the pay.gov website, just can't wait to fund America's $16.3 trillion in public debt... and rising at $100 billion each month.

But hey: in a world in which actions are cheaper than talk, who cares - after all they "signed the petition." And that is what true patriotism is all about.