Why It's Unpatriotic For the RIch Not to Pay Taxes

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Lonna-Gooden-VanHorn-intro-by-Lonna-Gooden-VanHo-110915-70.html

The article below was written by retired minister and WWII veteran Rev. Dick C. Pittenger. A version of it appeared in the "My Voice" column of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010


:snip:

I remembered loved ones long gone, including five brothers, four who also served in WWII. I then remembered President Eisenhower's justification for retaining the federal tax rate at 90 percent on income above $400,000 a year. He said millions had been making excess profits while G.I. Joe earned $21 a month. He also told the wealthy that it was "in their enlightened self-interest to help create a more just and humane society."

I believe he was thinking of those 16 million men and women he had led back from the crucible of war, some of whom had given five years or more of their lives to make it possible for the rest of us to live in peace and freedom and to make our "excess profits." Ike cared deeply about his soldiers and would be appalled that we have homeless veterans today.

Today, Ike also might point out that only rarely do the rich or their offspring venture into harm's way to keep our freedoms secure. Perhaps that fact alone deserves a much higher tax rate for them.

More at the link --

[OHdem10]

1. The very fact that GWB and Republicans in Congress gave that

humongous tax cut to the Rich exactly at the same
time they were asking the Working Class and Poor
not only to pay for the war but to send their kids
to fight it, shows us exactly where the Republicans
stand.

[FarLeftFist]

2. The rich have the most to lose in society, they should pay more.

If anarchy ever reigned down on the U.S. people will be scaling the wealthy's gated communities. Plus rich people's kids don't go to war, EVER.

[dkf]

3. It's not only the rich who don't volunteer, it's most of us.

And ironically the segment that does tend to volunteer trends more Republican.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/118684/military-veterans-ages-tend-republican.aspx

It's funny that we use people serving in the military to justify higher taxes, at least to me.

[amborin]

4. huh? sounds like unsuccessful attempt to exonerate elite for their failure to pay fair tax share

[gratuitous]

5. A couple of quaint old notions

"Enlightened self-interest" and "a more just and humane society." Long since gone the way of buggy whips and hook-and-eye fasteners. Society today is the economic war of all against all, and if you aren't grabbing as much as you can with both hands you're falling inevitably behind, you loser. And there is no obligation on the part of the winners to support or sustain the system that rewards their greed, there is only more greed.

[defendandprotect]

6. kr -- I remember when the GOP used to argue that the poor wanted to be taxed ....

because they also wanted to support democracy!!

Tax the rich -- and let's begin to put America back on her feet!!

[Blecht]

7. One thing a lot of people fail to realize

These are always marginal tax rates. If more people understood what that meant, there would be even more support for them.