"Patriotic Millionaires": Raise our taxes, please!

[Matariki]

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/04/13/millionaires_demand_higher_taxes/index.html

Patriotic Millionaires for Fiscal Strength, a group of dozens of the wealthiest Americans that formed last year during the fight over whether to extend the Bush tax cuts, is now jumping into the budget battle just as President Obama is expected to call for an end to the Bush cuts on the rich.

"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," the group writes in a new letter to Obama, Harry Reid, and John Boehner. "We make this request as loyal citizens who now or in the past earned incomes of $1,000,000 per year or more."

Last year, Obama signed a bill to extend the Bush tax cuts after originally proposing that the two highest tax rates return to 36% and 39.6%, up from the Bush tax cut levels of 33% and 35%.

One of the signatories of the new letter, film and television producer Linda Gottlieb, explained her participation to me this morning: "For me to be sitting and hoarding my money is insane," said Gottlieb, whose producer credits include Dirty Dancing and who now teaches at NYU's Tisch school. "We all give to charity, but that's not the same as creating a more equitable society."

more...

[Matariki]

1. Need more of this...

[unblock]

2. it's a sad statement about power today that we can't reverse puny 3% and 4.6% cuts for the rich

ridiculous, especially because we SHOULD have a top tax rate more like 50%, easily.

[ladjf]

6. Yes.

[Fla_Democrat]

3. /swish

http://www.fms.treas.gov/faq/moretopics_gifts.html


Citizens who wish to make a general donation to the U.S. government may send contributions to a specific account called "Gifts to the United States." This account was established in 1843 to accept gifts, such as bequests, from individuals wishing to express their patriotism to the United States. Money deposited into this account is for general use by the federal government and can be available for budget needs. These contributions are considered an unconditional gift to the government. Financial gifts can be made by check or money order payable to the United States Treasury and mailed to the address below.

Gifts to the United States
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Credit Accounting Branch
3700 East-West Highway, Room 622D
Hyattsville, MD 20782





What's stopping them from paying more, if they feel they are not being 'patriotic' enough? :shrug:



:smoke:

[Courtesy Flush]

4. But that misses the point

Maybe they are paying more. I don't know. But you can't balance the budget on the few rich people who voluntarily give to the government.

[99th_Monkey]

5. No one can shame these uber-rich assholes like their rich "peers". BRAVO! ~nt