It should be no surprise to most of you that know me that I fall into the ranks of the conservatives when it comes to my ideological thoughts and principles. One of the principles I strongly believe in is that the government should take less of our money - not more. Tim and I do not relish paying taxes, we would much rather give to charity. If you looked at our tax returns, you'd find that we actually do give more to charity than we pay in taxes - BUT, we pay everything due. We know we have a responsibility to God to be truthful in reporting our income and being honest in paying Caesar (or the Federal Treasury) what is due as we have been instructed by the Lord.
That said, I find it infuriating when well intentioned liberal lawmakers rally around the cry to raise taxes on the rich to pay for government programs that, let's face it, are a very poor way (in terms of efficiency) to help the poor and provide social programs. I find it even more infuriating when these politicians crucify businesses that ship jobs overseas to avoid paying crippling taxes here in the US. It's about the bottom line, people!
So... when I read articles like this one on Senator Dashle's revelation that he ... oops! forgot to pay over $128,000 in back taxes, I can literally feel my blood pressure rising.
Anyone else find it ironic that the guy Obama chose for Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, didn't pay Social Security and Medicare taxes for several years while he worked for the International Monetary Fund? The sum totaled $25,970 that he didn't pay even after a 2006 audit ... at least he didn't pay until this nomination.
2006: 6.1%
2005: 4.7%
2004: 1.2%
2003: 1.4%
2002: 0.4%
2001: 0.5%
2000: 0.9%
The one I find shocking though, is how little priority our new Vice President (Joe Biden) places on giving to charity. Notice below his annual Adjusted Gross Income vs. his Charitable donations:
1998 $215,432 $195
1999 $210,797 $120
2000 $219,953 $360
2001 $220,712 $360
2002 $227,811 $260
2003 $231,375 $260
2004 $234,271 $380
2005 $321,379 $380
2006 $248,459 $380
2007 $319,853 $995
Total $2,450,042 $3,690
On our percentage basis, Joe and his wife gave between 0.06 and 0.31percent of their income. Pathetic.
Democrat John Kerry, who ran in 2004, also ranks very low on the giving scale. Would you believe he did not claim any charitable contributions in the 1990s despite having a six-figure income, although he did report nearly $44,000 in contributions on earnings of nearly $400,000 in 2003, the year before his unsuccessful White House bid. Convenient.
Guess they think why should they give their own money when they can give mine???
Contrast with ...
In 2007, McCain donated more than 25 percent of his $400,000-plus income to the foundation — money made from his Senate salary, book royalties and Navy pension. Harper’s Magazine reported that McCain contributed roughly $950,000 to their family's charitable foundation between 2001 and 2006.
President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush donated over $165,000 in 2007. Vice President Cheney and his wife, Lynne, have donated close to $8 million while he has been in office.
Kind of makes you want to get behind the people who put their own money where there mouth is.
1 comment:
Let's not even get started with two of Obama's recent tax evaders nominated for public office: Daschle and Geithner.
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