Warren Buffett Inspires Millionaires to Lobby Congress for Higher Taxes

for 1% of the population, money grows on trees

Perhaps inspired by billionaire Warren Buffett’s media campaign to urge Congress to raise taxes on the wealthy, in an interesting turn of events, a group of well meaning millionaires stormed Washington’s Capitol Hill to demand… higher taxes?

With the Unites States economy still sputtering, our federal government in the red, and unemployment at an all-time high, we knew something had to give, and “we” were right. As Conservative talking political heads are preaching that raising income tax and business tax on the rich will sink an already sick American economy, the wealthiest 1% of Americans are saying, “But we want to be taxed more. No, really, raise our taxes!” Fox News and Republican presidential hopefuls like Mitt Romney and Michelle Bachmann are staying on message, saying, “No, we won’t raise your taxes. We want the rich to get richer.”

Meanwhile, the Occupy Wall Street protest is just getting bigger (and smellier from lack of sanitation, we might add).

So what does all of this mean, and where is the fate of the American economy headed? It’s all so confusing. We can’t even figure out who is fighting for what anymore. To add another twist to this sad economic tale, millionaires, yes millionaires (as in the illustrious top 1%) are rallying up on Capitol Hill asking Congress to raise their taxes. Many millionaires actually, um, want to help apparantly.

On Wednesday, November 17, 2011, a group of determined millionaires stormed Washington (after a bit of a security scuffle) to demand that they get taxed more, explaining that of all people, they don’t need their tax breaks. Once inside, the millionaires found that they were just sort of preaching to the choir (shocker). Liberals, were of course, all ears, and some Conservatives greeted the well meaning bunch with a luke warm reception. According to AOL Huff Post, they were told, “‘If you think the federal government can spend your money better than you can, then by all means pay more in taxes than you owe,’ said Grover Norquist, of Americans for Tax Reform.” Norquist suggested that IRS tax forms should have an additional line where those who feel obliged to pay more taxes can add something of a gratuity to give to the federal government as a gift.

Many in Congress felt that this Millionaire’s March of Washington to ask to pay more taxes was little more than a public relations show, explaining that “no one is stopping these millionaires from giving the government more money if they want to.”

What do you think? Should the current tax code be changed to tax millionaires more, or should those who want to pay more simply write a bigger check when they pay their tax bill each year?