First of all, Barack Obama needs to replace Rahm Emanuel: discovering that Timothy Geithner, Tom Daschle, and Nancy Killefer were tax cheats was his job, and he failed to do it. He certainly wouldn’t be my chief of staff any longer.
This whole rich-people-don’t-pay-taxes thing has got to stop. We’ve been having our noses rubbed in it since the days of Leona Helmsley. Clearly, we need an income tax to fund all the things we expect our government to do. It needs to be a no-exceptions/no-exemptions flat tax. If I give the government 13% of my gross income, and Tom Daschle gives 13%, and the guy who works at Wal-Mart gives 13%, that’s fair, and most importantly, I’ll know that the wealthy are giving their fair share too. Because it’s getting to the point where regular people like me are ready to take to the streets.
I’m amazed — amazed, I say — that a populist demagogue hasn’t arisen in this country and swept all before him. Rich people who don’t pay taxes? Confiscate all their worldly goods and throw ’em in jail! Corporations that outsource jobs overseas? Shut ’em down! Trade protectionism? Bring it on! Hedge fund managers? Exile them to Bikini Atoll . . . forever! Tax attorneys? Well, hell, a flat tax would eliminate an entire profession, one most people would love to see eliminated!
If there’s another Ross Perot out there, one who’s not batshit crazy, or a saner version of Ron Paul, now’s your chance . . . America will turn its lonely eyes to you!