Posted on by Californiacontrarian

Lead by Example ?

It is from a sense of guilt or from some form of altruism that a group of nearly 20 wealthy Americans on 6/24/19  released a letter asking for all 2020 presidential hopefuls to support a “moderate wealth tax” on the richest one-tenth of the richest 1 percent of Americans. To me, this is a very slippery slope. First, the richest 0.01, then the richest 0.1%, then the richest 1% . . . then what ?

The New York Times reported that the letter in part stated, “America has a moral, ethical and economic responsibility to tax our wealth more. A wealth tax could help address the climate crisis, improve the economy, improve health outcomes, fairly create opportunity, and strengthen our democratic freedoms.” The letter was signed by financier George Soros, Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, heirs like Abigail Disney and others.

Of course those on the left will support almost any “tax the rich” proposal, and this letter specifically highlights Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-Mass.) plan to tax “only 75,000 of the wealthiest families in the country,” and it cites South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) as being “already supportive of the idea” of a tax on the wealthiest citizens. Now I am not one of the “only” 75,000 who would be lucky enough to fall under the net of these liberal politicians, but I say to anyone, including Mr. Soros, “If you feel that the rich, like you, do not pay enough in taxes, then put up or shut up! Lead by example! Donate some of your excessive wealth to the government. Perhaps, many of the other uber rich will then follow your lead and do the same!”

A friend of mine donates 5% of his earnings to charity. He does not preach to others that they should do the same. He just does it because he feels that it is the right thing to do. Although neither the Mayor nor Beto are in Warren’s “lucky 75,000,” they are not destitute and I would suggest to them, “donate some of your money to the government; lead by example!”

On the other hand, President Trump is donating his entire salary to different causes. In March, 2019 he revealed that he donated a quarter of his $400,000 salary to the Department of Homeland Security. 

“While the press doesn’t like writing about it, nor do I need them to, I donate my yearly Presidential salary of $400,000.00 to different agencies throughout the year, this to Homeland Security,” Trump tweeted. What he did not tweet was: “All rich Washington politicians, especially those in the House and the Senate should follow my example and be donating a significant portion of their wealth or perhaps their entire salary to, for instance, help pay down the federal deficit. Do you hear me, Ms. Pelosi and Ms. Warren!”

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