Read My Lips: No More Taxes

By MICHEAL LITTLEJOHN

Robin Hood is merely a fictional character in a fairy tale. What he takes from the rich he gives to the poor: you would think that this would only hold true in a fairy tale. Well, not exactly.

President Obama’s recently proposed “Buffett Rule,” named after billionaire Warren Buffett, would force the wealthiest Americans to pay more taxes. According to the Obama administration, it will help cut the nation’s debt. The deficit is most certainly unsustainable, but raising taxes for the rich is not the solution. This is absolutely and utterly absurd.

Why should top earners have to pay more on taxes just because they make more money? In America, we live in a capitalist society where anyone can be rich. Everyone is afforded the same opportunity to make something out of nothing. Work ethic and motivation are not only necessary to survive; it is the foundation of our society. The “rags to riches” story is not uncommon and is an essential component in our society.

Those who have worked relentlessly and ardently to receive those seven-figure salaries should not be robbed from them. Being penalized for working harder has never been a part of American ideology. If I were to make a gross salary that put me in that one percent, I would not want anyone to take my money. This is especially frustrating because there are people who didn’t work as hard as I did to get there.

On the other end of the spectrum, I would not be mad because someone is making more and getting taxed less. If anything that would motivate me to try harder and work more, so I can be on the same level.

That should be motivation, not a time to complain about what the next guy has.

This is not to deny that there are less wealthy people working hard, perhaps just as hard as those in the one percent. Differences in career path or education can drastically alter a person’s success. We must deal with these shortcomings, for everyone has them.

Ultimately, there should be a line added on the 1040 IRS tax form that would allow those who want to donate more of their hard earned money to do so. However, forcing a tax on America’s job creators is not just. If Buffett believes he should pay more, then by all means, let him pay more, but he does not speak on behalf of everyone in his income bracket.