# Warren Buffett on taxing the rich **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 15, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787 "2011-08-15T15:21:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/1 "2011-08-15T15:21:19Z")
[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/stop-coddling-the-super-rich.html?\_r=3](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/stop-coddling-the-super-rich.html?_r=3) > [@Warren Buffett](#): > > But for those making more than $1 million — there were 236,883 such households in 2009 — I would raise rates immediately on taxable income in excess of $1 million, including, of course, dividends and capital gains. And for those who make $10 million or more — there were 8,274 in 2009 — I would suggest an additional increase in rate. > > My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress. It’s time for our government to get serious about shared sacrifice. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/2 "2011-08-15T15:32:20Z")
I was delighted to read that this morning. I only wish I could be confident that it will make any difference at all. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/3 "2011-08-15T23:39:11Z")
[QUOTE=Warren Buffett] While the poor and middle class fight for us in Afghanistan… [/QUOTE] Who is “us”, Mr. Buffett? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/4 "2011-08-15T23:47:33Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Who is “us”, Mr. Buffett? Th rich guys who give the orders? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/5 "2011-08-16T00:19:22Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Who is “us”, Mr. Buffett? You and me, **Kozmik**. Ask any politician. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/6 "2011-08-16T00:41:48Z")
What the hell does this guy know about money? Have him come talk to me when he makes his first billion. Until then I’ll take the advice of Bachmann, Beck, Boehner, Walsh and Perry. ---
**Author:** ![No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_umlaut_for_U)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/7 "2011-08-16T00:43:03Z")
Warren Buffett–you rock! ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/8 "2011-08-16T00:43:30Z")
Wish he’d spoken up a month ago! 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/9 "2011-08-16T00:47:38Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Wish he’d spoken up a month ago! 😕 Not sure if he spoke up exactly a month ago, but he’s been on record as supporting tax increases for awhile, now. I seem to remember re-hearing about it around last month as well but I may be mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/10 "2011-08-16T00:50:05Z")
Buffet for President! ---
**Author:** ![MareIt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@MareIt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MareIt)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/11 "2011-08-16T01:01:21Z")
Thanks to the wonders of Facebook, I now know that there are people who think that Warren Buffett can just pay more in taxes. I had to point out to them that if he overpays, he will get a refund just like the rest of us normal folks. ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/12 "2011-08-16T01:05:00Z")
> [@MareIt](#): > > Thanks to the wonders of Facebook, I now know that there are people who think that Warren Buffett can just pay more in taxes. I had to point out to them that if he overpays, he will get a refund just like the rest of us normal folks. That’s not how it works. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/13 "2011-08-16T01:25:46Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > I was delighted to read that this morning. I only wish I could be confident that it will make any difference at all. [Obama just endorsed Buffet’s proposal.](http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-warren-buffett-is-right-on-taxes-2011-8) ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/14 "2011-08-16T03:26:01Z")
Yet he was critical of Obama on taxing corporate jets. It’s an argument made by a man who will never be affected in any material way by tax increases. I think it depends on how you define “rich”. A million a year in income (ordinary) is probably a good start. Still, tax increases alone on the “rich” won’t do much to stimulate growth. It is a red herring by Obama to appeal to his base. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/15 "2011-08-16T03:36:50Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Yet he was critical of Obama on taxing corporate jets. Well, he does own [NetJets](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NetJets). He’s not exactly unbiased on that subject. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/16 "2011-08-16T03:42:17Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Well, he does own [NetJets](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NetJets). He’s not exactly unbiased on that subject. I question his bias on the entire issue. Buffet is so rich that none of this matters so forgive me if I don’t jump on the bandwagon. Reform the tax code will do more then raising taxes on tne “rich”. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/17 "2011-08-16T03:47:50Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > I question his bias on the entire issue. Buffet is so rich that none of this matters so forgive me if I don’t jump on the bandwagon. The op-ed was about his personal taxes, while eliminating the deduction on corporate jets would affect a business he owns. I believe the deduction should be eliminated, but then I don’t own a company that leases corporate jets. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/18 "2011-08-16T04:17:35Z")
> [@MareIt](#): > > Thanks to the wonders of Facebook, I now know that there are people who think that Warren Buffett can just pay more in taxes. I had to point out to them that if he overpays, he will get a refund just like the rest of us normal folks. Those people probably want him to make a [gift to the federal government](http://www.fms.treas.gov/faq/moretopics_gifts.html). It’s still a pretty stupid suggestion, but it is _possible_. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/19 "2011-08-16T12:44:51Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > The op-ed was about his personal taxes, while eliminating the deduction on corporate jets would affect a business he owns. I believe the deduction should be eliminated, but then I don’t own a company that leases corporate jets. Or employ people who depend on corporations using corporate jets for their jobs. I used to do taxes for a big company with a corporate jet. Without the deduction, we wouldn’t have had the jet. The tax policies made it cost effective. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787/20 "2011-08-16T13:02:39Z")
No one’s ever decided _not_ to be rich because of the taxes, have they? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-on-taxing-the-rich/592787.md?page=2)