Bill Gates Says He Doesn't Pay Enough Tax

[Peter Parka]

Reckons wealthy people should do more to solve the financial crisis. Refreshing and and unselfish change from the usual morons kicking poor people when the're down and blaming them by accusing most of them of being lazy and spongers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16714480

 

[retro]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

I'm sick and tired of hearing these rich people claiming that they don't pay enough in taxes. If they feel like they should be paying more, then they should donate money to the government.

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

 

[Peter Parka]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

To be fair, I think you'll find Bill Gates has donated more money to help those in need than you'll ever earn in a lifetime.

 

[retro]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

To be fair, I think you'll find Bill Gates has donated more money to help those in need than you'll ever earn in a lifetime.

Your point? He's saying that he doesn't get taxed enough. It's well within his power to donate more money to the federal government if he truly believes that. I'm not discounting his philanthropy, but my point still stands.

 

[Peter Parka]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

He could, you've missed the point, he thinks he SHOULD.

 

[zen]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

Your point? He's saying that he doesn't get taxed enough. It's well within his power to donate more money to the federal government if he truly believes that. I'm not discounting his philanthropy, but my point still stands.

If BG donates money to the government, would the government count that as income and pay taxes? Is there a mechanism that allows money to be collected by the gov'mint as a "donation"?

 

[retro]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

He could, you've missed the point, he thinks he SHOULD.

Then he SHOULD do it. Jesus Christ. Is that really such a difficult concept to grasp? If he feels strongly enough that he should be paying more in taxes, then he should pay more in taxes.

 

[Peter Parka]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

Have you still not got it? He thinks the government should charge him more tax, not just gratefully accept any donation he makes out of the kindness of his heart. If you want to go down that route, look at Victorian Britain, the last time it happened here and see how great it was.

 

[retro]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

Have you still not got it? He thinks the government should charge him more tax, not just gratefully accept any donation he makes out of the kindness of his heart. If you want to go down that route, look at Victorian Britain, the last time it happened here and see how great it was.

It's fine and dandy that he believes that he should be taxed more than the 35% he pays on income over $388,351 plus the 15% on long term and 35% on short term capital gains that he pays already. If he feels that he should be paying more than that, then he should pay what he believes to be a fair number above and beyond those tax brackets. The 35% tax bracket is already scheduled to go up to 39.6% in CY 2013, which will actually be higher due to changes in itemized deductions scheduled to go into effect as well.

It's easy for Gates to say he doesn't pay enough, as he's what... the 2nd richest man in the world? What about the people that are on the bottom of the 35% bracket? Should there be a new tax bracket for the so-called "super rich"? Or should everyone that makes over $350k a year have their taxes bumped up because of it. The definition of "rich" keeps shifting downward to the point where I think it'll eventually settle with anyone that makes over $100k a year. Gates and Buffett, as the 2nd and 3rd richest people in the world, can sit there and wax philosophical on how they should pay more in taxes. But why don't they actually put their money where their mouths are and pay a higher amount in order to prove their point?

 

[Peter Parka]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

My heart bleeds for those poor people on 100K a year.:sarcasm You're really not selling this well, are you?

 

[retro]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

My heart bleeds for those poor people on 100K a year.:sarcasm You're really not selling this well, are you?

You do realize that making $100k today isn't really making all that much money in the grand scheme of things, right? It doesn't make you anywhere close to being "rich"... especially with rampant inflation.

Way to ignore my comment about Gates and Buffett putting their money where their mouths are as well.

 

[Peter Parka]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

Yes, I feel really sorry for the poverty stricken people on 100K a year.:sarcasm As I said, Gates has put his money where his mouth is

 

[retro]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

Yes, I feel really sorry for the poverty stricken people on 100K a year.:sarcasm As I said, Gates has put his money where his mouth is

I never said they were "poverty stricken", simply that they are a very long way from being "rich". Impressive job at trying to spin things that direction though, bravo.

Gates hasn't put his money where his mouth is when it comes to this specific issue. Yes, he has donated plenty of money to different causes that help people. But this is referring to taxation, or government revenue. He saying that he should pay more in taxes... well, then he needs to put his money where his mouth is and give above and beyond what his tax rate is. Pretty damn simple concept, don't you think?

 

[Peter Parka]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

Bill Gates free donations have helped poor people more than if he just gave it to the government to buy another nuke. I stand by my point.

 

[retro]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

Bill Gates free donations have helped poor people more than if he just gave it to the government to buy another nuke. I stand by my point.

Yet, the issue at hand is TAXES, not how much money he's given to other causes. You're the one that posted the thread Peter... the quote is in the context of taxes paid to the United States Government. So, since Gates feels like he should be paying more in TAXES, then he should put his money where his mouth is and pay what he feels he should. At least try to exercise the logical portion of your brain on this one. I'm seeing you say two completely different things now.

1) Bill Gates should pay more in taxes and doesn't need to prove it because he gives to charitable causes that help people
2) Bill Gates would be better off giving money to causes that will help people and not to the government

Which is it?

 

[Peter Parka]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

I dont recall saying anywhere that Bill Gates needs to pay more taxes but not prove it

 

[retro]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

I dont recall saying anywhere that Bill Gates needs to pay more taxes but not prove it

Really?

He thinks the government should charge him more tax, not just gratefully accept any donation he makes out of the kindness of his heart.

Yes, I feel really sorry for the poverty stricken people on 100K a year.:sarcasm As I said, Gates has put his money where his mouth is

I said that he needs to put his money where his mouth is and pay what he thinks he should be paying in taxes... you said that he doesn't need to put his money where his mouth is because he contributes to charitable causes. Pay better attention to the things that you say.

 

[Peter Parka]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

I still fail to see where I said he should pay taxes on the quiet, sorry.

 

[retro]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

I still fail to see where I said he should pay taxes on the quiet, sorry.

I never said that you did... how I phrased it may have made it seem that way though. I'm referring to the fact that you agree that he should pay more in taxes. I'm saying that if he feels that way, that he should put his money where his mouth is... you say he doesn't need to because he gives to charitable causes. Giving to charitable causes and giving more money to the government are two totally different concepts.

 

[alice in chains]

Re: Bill Gates Says He Dosen't Pay Enough Tax

Hmm not sure but didn't then Feds force him to start the Bill Gates Foundation? because he wasn't moving enough money back into the economy?

I think it's great he donates millions of dollars...but personally i think he should donate billions. he'll never see or even be capable of using all that excess money in his life.