The Buffett Plan For Reducing The Trade Deficit

Quote from Covert:

You've missed the point, but I will concede that giving away 55bil to charity is a magnificent act- and to give it to another foundation because he didn't feel that he had the capacity to administer the money is truly a selfless act devoid of ego.

My point was, that when he goes on CNBC and tells people with a straight face that he's paying 22% of his income in taxes and his secretary is paying 31%, he's not being totally truthful. The secretary is paying regular income, and Buffet is paying mainly capital gains. When he tells us that he feels that the govt. needs the money they get from the death tax, he doesn't tell you that his insurance companies make a ton of $ selling policies to people so they can pay this tax.

He didn't 'flex his mindset' whatever that means- he's seen a huge increase in BRK's stock price since 1982 when....taxes started coming down. Now that he's made it, he feels like taxes are too low....could that be an attempt to slow down competition?



I see your point-- by raising taxes it will be hard to compete with him. But if a solid chunk of that is going to a charity, as well as taxes (which ideally will help the poor), I really can't fault the guy.
 
Quote from CollegeTrader33:

I see your point-- by raising taxes it will be hard to compete with him. But if a solid chunk of that is going to a charity, as well as taxes (which ideally will help the poor), I really can't fault the guy.

Taxes help the poor... LOL... that's a good one...
 
Quote from CollegeTrader33:

Something has to pay for welfare, medicare/caid, etc.

Plus, I threw "ideally" in there for a reason
That's just the politicians excuse for raising taxes. Reality is, taxes make bureaucrats fat, the leftovers go to the poor.
 
If the U.S. wants to reduce their trade deficit, why don't they start by increasing the tax on gasoline. The increased price in gas would force people to start seeking home grown alternatives. No country is going to retaliate with a trade war over higher gas taxes. Most of the world already taxes gasoline far more than the U.S. does.
 
I dont get it why the trade deficit needs to be reduced at all. if people decide that consumption is more valuable than having a strong currency and that foreigners stay away from owning national assets then thats their choice. for those that dont, dont bitch, just hedge.
 
Quote from Covert:

You've missed the point, but I will concede that giving away 55bil to charity is a magnificent act- and to give it to another foundation because he didn't feel that he had the capacity to administer the money is truly a selfless act devoid of ego.

Stop being so gullible, almost all of these big charities and foundations are just tax shelters and concealment of wealth. Ever wonder why the old money families (Rockefellers, Vanderbuilts, Warburgs, Morgans, etc.) don't show up on the Forbes richest people lists? How about the royal families of Europe?

These people are not stupid, they are very smart. If they had any desire to truly help, they would not be dealing with charities & foundations, they would just revitalize economies & manufacturing bases at rock bottom profits, or even break even/net loss

Hence Buffett's plan, it's a bunch of hogwash that seems to be gearing toward something like a Carbon Credit but with different attributes, which translates into more power in bureaucracies.
 
Buffet states that his tax rate is too low and then circumvents the entire tax system by donating the whole wad to a trust..

If buffet thinks his tax rate is too low, he's more than welcome to write an additional check to the Treasury.. I bet they'll cash it
 
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