From the Washington Times:
As he empathized with recession-weary Americans, President Obama arranged in the days just before he took office to secure a $500,000 advance for a children's book project, a disclosure report shows.
One blogger suggests we do unto our politicians as they have done unto Wall Street:
Since threats of confiscatory government taxes on "unmerited" or "windfall" income seem to be all the rage these days, I am simply proposing that all elected government officials who write books should be taxed at 100% on any royalty advances that they receive while in office — while they are employed by us as our public servants. That's only "fair" ... isn't it?
Obamaphiles don't like the idea:
- The limit on banker's bonuses is because the gov't gave BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to the banks. The gov't dollars should NOT be used to pad the already wealthy banking executives pay when their companies have performed so poorly. I don't see Obama getting BILLIONS in gov't money for screwing up the financial system, like the bankers did.
- The growing discrepancy between extreme wealthy [sic] and the average American is what leads to political instability. And that only adds to market turbulence. It seems obvious what needs to be done, and yet boneheads are out there rambling in complete ignorance of the situation.
See, Dubya just signed a big ol' book deal. Crown publishers is paying him a $7 million advance to writing a book called Decision Points, all about what a decider he was. Now the general wisdom is that Bush screwed things up. Seriously, ask Pelosi, Rangel, Reed or Obama and they'll give you a whole litany of things he did wrong to get us in this mess.
If you can tax AIG bonuses at a punitive rate, is there any reason not to tax Bush? Is there some special exemption for ex-Presidents that protect them against vindictive tax policy from current politicians? Not as far as we know.
I can't take it anymore! Democrats whine about the "excessive" earnings of the high achievers in this country, but when the very same Democrats are elected to high office, they use the office as a stepping stone on their quest to take home seven figure mountains of cash.
Liberals say the key to a more just society is to get more money into the U.S. Treasury. I say "put your money where your mouth is." There's hardly a liberal in this country who couldn't afford to send a FEW extra dollars to the U.S. Treasury on a voluntary basis. Go ahead Mr. Liberal, give until it hurts. Or try a more cautious approach. Are you supposed to be getting a tax refund? Let Uncle Sam keep it. The Federal Government doesn't owe you any money, you say? Just send ten extra dollars to Uncle Sam. Then you'd actually have a little credibility. But you won't do that will you?
You won't admit it, but your actions speak louder than words — you know that an extra dollar in the hands of Government, even with your democrat buddies in charge, is a bad investment!
And don't give me the this faux outrage about Bush's $7 million figure deal. Republicans aren't the ones preaching against productivity and wealth.
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Bonfire of the Trivialities
Now, in the scheme of things, $165 million is a rounding error. It amounts to less than 1/18,500 of the $3.1 trillion federal budget. It's less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the bailout money given to AIG alone. If Bill Gates were to pay these AIG bonuses every year for the next 100 years, he'd still be left with more than half his personal fortune.
Grandstanding, parochialism...and a rush to mindless populism. Over what? ...Bonus money that comes to what the Yankees are paying for CC Sabathia's left arm.
Is that AIG tax constitutional?
Concluding his written statement, Gregg said that the Senate bill would undermine the credibility of the U.S. tax system and "create an atmosphere where any group that offends the sensibilities of the majority may be at risk for punitive tax treatment."
