Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

Republican obstruction dressed up as bipartisanship. Again.

So many bastards, so little time.

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself. We’re allowed to grow past that.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Michigan is a great lesson for Dems everywhere: when you have power…use it!

We know you aren’t a Democrat but since you seem confused let me help you.

I desperately hope that, yet again, I am wrong.

He really is that stupid.

‘Museums aren’t America’s attic for its racist shit.’

This really is a full service blog.

We’ll be taking my thoughts and prayers to the ballot box.

Somebody needs to explain to DeSantis that nobody needs to do anything to make him look bad.

“I was told there would be no fact checking.”

It’s the corruption, stupid.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

T R E 4 5 O N

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

The line between political reporting and fan fiction continues to blur.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

It could be worse. Vance could have said “post-menopausal sows.” Waiting for that audiotape to surface.

You are here: Home / Economics / Free Markets Solve Everything / About That Class Warfare Thing

About That Class Warfare Thing

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Buffett just seems like such a good guy:

Buffett, a Democrat and Obama-supporter, had one question for Mitt Romney: “Do you think the tax system should be perpetuated?”

He doesn’t blame the former Massachusetts governor or any of the ultra-rich for paying lower tax rates than most Americans and challenged Congress to make a change.

“I don’t pay hardly any payroll taxes,” Buffett said. “Gov. Romney hardly pays any payroll taxes, Newt Gingrich hardly pays any payroll taxes. Debbie pays lots of payroll taxes.”

He lashed out at assertions from many Republican leaders that the “Buffett rule” is class warfare.

“If this is a war, my side has the nuclear bomb,” Buffett said. “We have K Street. … We have Wall Street. Debbie doesn’t have anybody. I want a government that is responsive to the people who got the short straw in life.”

Of course he is 100% accurate.

Reader Interactions

82Comments

  5. 5.

    Mark S.

    “Do you think the tax system should be perpetuated?”

    Well, no, the GOP doesn’t. That’s why they want to exclude capital gains, dividends, and interest from income tax, so rich people will never have to pay anything if they don’t want to.

    We got some new buttons, I see.

    Edit: We can edit also, too!

  6. 6.

    Chuchundra

    To be fair, I doubt that Buffet’s secretary really got “the short straw in life”. A nice, middle-class life in the USA is a pretty long straw compared to most.

    Of course, while Debbie’s straw is long, Warren’s reaches to the moon and back.

  9. 9.

    cmorenc

    It’s not class warfare until some of the 99%ers begin fighting back. Until then, what the 1%ers are doing they consider merely a police action to enforce an order in which the things are heavily stacked in their favor.

  11. 11.

    Benjamin Franklin

    “I don’t pay hardly any payroll taxes,” Buffett said. “Gov. Romney hardly pays any payroll taxes, Newt Gingrich hardly pays any payroll taxes. Debbie pays lots of payroll taxes

    He has an excellent point. It won’t really hurt him if the payroll tax cap is removed for earned income. But how about Cap Gains? No payroll taxes there.

    Include both with no cap, then Romney can whine about double-taxation.

  12. 12.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @cathyx:

    His secretary. He’s been making this argument for years, and of course these idiots pining to be given tumbrel rides ignore him.

  13. 13.

    KG

    @BGinCHI: well, Jimmy does have some great advice… drinking, partying, and sex, advice we could all live by.

    I’m of the mind that the tax code needs a complete overhaul. I’m also of the mind that it will never happen. Too many vested interests in protecting their little niches. Every deduction that is put on the chopping block will be “an attack on the middle class” or “an attack on home owners” or “an attack on job creators” or “an attack on charities” or “an attack on religion” or “an attack on small businesses” or whatever else.

  14. 14.

    Cat Lady

    Buffett and Gates v. the Koch brothers should have a cage match tag team and settle this once and for all. Four multibillionaire mofos go in, one comes out.

    ETA: I can edit! W00t! {snoopy dance} Thanks John!

  15. 15.

    redshirt

    How soon before the dreaded SOROS monster is replaced with the evil BUFFET monster?

    Already happening? I bet the folks at “Fox Bizness” haz a confuzed.

  16. 16.

    pseudonymous in nc

    Buffett’s conversations with Bill Gates about the obligations of billionaires may, ultimately, be responsible for saving millions of lives. (The Gates Foundation is getting the bulk of Warren’s fortune when he dies, because it’s turned into such an effective vehicle.)

  18. 18.

    Waldo

    Buffet has been saying this since Bush first proposed his tax cuts — and the wing nuts still act shocked every time he mentions it.

  19. 19.

    Raven

    @BGinCHI:

    I was supposed to have been a jesuit priest or a naval academy grad
    That was the way that my parents perceived me
    Those were the plans that they had
    But I couldnt fit the part too dumb or too smart
    Aint it funny how we all turned out
    I guess we are the people our parents warned us about

    You know I coulda worked the rigs when the money was big
    Or hopped a freighter south to trinidad
    And when they tried to draft me I earned a college degree
    Buyin time til things were not so bad
    But then I got a guitar found a job in a bar
    Playin acid rock til I was numb
    Tell me where are the flashbacks they all warned us would come

  22. 22.

    KG

    @cathyx: oh, I know, I know. It’s a shame really. There’s a lot of things that need serious overhaul (immigration is another area), but everyone is either scared or making money off the status quo. So we get nibbling around the edges that talked about as if it’s visionary and important, when really, it changes nothing of import.

  23. 23.

    Southern Beale

    Speaking of warfare, this from Missouri:

    Police investigate rifle cross hairs stickers found in Capitol
    __
    By RUDI KELLER
    __
    JEFFERSON CITY — Orange stickers with an image of rifle cross hairs were found yesterday on the office nameplates of several Democratic state senators, prompting an investigation by Missouri Capitol Police, Senate Administrator Jim Howerton said.
    __
    “We are taking all the precautions we can,” Howerton said.
    __
    One similar sticker was found on the nameplate outside the door of state Rep. Scott Dieckhaus, R-Washington. He was the only Republican and the only House member who found one of the stickers.
    __
    The stickers were near the doors of all four Democratic women in the Senate — Jolie Justus and Kiki Curls, both of Kansas City, and Maria Chapelle-Nadal and Robin Wright-Jones, both of St. Louis. A sticker also was found near the door of Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Kansas City and the Democrats’ floor leader.
    __
    “If anyone thinks this was a prank, it is not a prank,” Justus said after discussing the discovery of the stickers on the Senate floor. “You don’t joke about someone’s personal safety.”

  26. 26.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @redshirt:

    I’d have a trademark on it, I’d think. If only.

    It’s just one of my favorite memes for dealing with assholes who think their shit does not stink due to it being processed through a gold plated privy.

  27. 27.

    Martin

    This is a really interesting dynamic going on. The GOP rails against Obama waging class warfare, when Obama is the one with the bigger billionaire on stage.

    Should Romney win the nom, I guarantee there will be this line in the debates from Obama: “Class warfare comes up a lot by Governor Romney, but when Warren Buffet looks at his 15% tax rate he thinks he should be paying more. When Gov. Romney looks at his 15% tax rate, he thinks he’s paying too much. That speaks to Gov. Romney attitudes about class, not mine.”

  28. 28.

    Baud

    I’ve said this before, but Buffet needs to go all Citizens United on some Republican assess this year.

  29. 29.

    BGinCHI

    With the picture from Cole and the new blog features, I can only assume two things:

    1. John was fired from his job.

    2. There was an Intervention.

  31. 31.

    Raven

    And life is still a tire swing

    ‘Jambalaya’ is the best song I can sing

    Blackberry pickin’ eatin’ fried chicken

    But I finally learned a lot about pain

  32. 32.

    Scott

    By the way, in response to the inevitable wingnut rejoinder “Well, if Buffett doesn’t think he pays enough taxes, he can write a check”, have some rejoinder of your own:

    If you want less government, then consume less government goods and services: Don’t take social security, pay for your own Medicare, take only non-FDA approved medicines, fly only non-FAA mechanically certified aircraft, don’t fly at all because you don’t want to pay for Air Traffic Controllers, don’t watch the weather reports, don’t use any GPS services, don’t travel on any interstate or US highways, volunteer to fight overseas for no pay and bring your own weapons. Etc, etc. I’m sure there are a lot more out there!

  37. 37.

    Bubblegum Tate

    Remember: In the wingnut world, class warfare isn’t class warfare. Noticing class warfare is class warfare.

  45. 45.

    Cassidy

    @Scott: Tried that with a “Libertarian” friend of mine. He keeps on and on about smaller gov’t, so I suggested that he not call the police, fire, etc. His response was that some services (ones that benefited him) were good. He also works for the city. One day I’ll ask him if he’s willing to make gov’t smaller by one person.

  47. 47.

    freelancer

    @Bubblegum Tate:

    Remember: In the wingnut world, class warfare isn’t class warfare. Noticing class warfare is class warfare.

    See also racism, voter fraud, media bias, hypocrisy on family values, etc.

    Well put.

  48. 48.

    RalfW

    He doesn’t blame the former Massachusetts governor…

    Buffet seems like a nice guy and he means well in urging higher taxes for the rich.

    But Romney and his Carried Interest buddies are not blameless. They spent millions lobbying Congress intensely to keep the loophole when it was under scrutiny in recent years.

    The rich gamed the friggin’ system. Totally. They didn’t just “pay what’s required,” they set the levels of requirement.

    Fer chrissakes, it’s not hard to trace that back, Warren.

  50. 50.

    pluege

    sure Buffet is accurate, but much, much more important he is decent.

    The indecency of the US plutocracy is disgusting. They are thoroughly indecent monsters enslaved by their boundless greed. To listen to their arrogance, their self-anointed superiority by virtue of unearned advantages is one of the vilest things to listen to.

  51. 51.

    Mudge

    It’s very simple. Warren Buffett is not a sociopath. He considers himself part of a society that should work to make the less fortunate members better and have the more fortunate members have added responsibility. This country used to be unarguably this way.

  52. 52.

    WereBear

    And really, truly, how many billions does a person need? Would Mitt Romney even notice if he paid another million every year? Would he?

  53. 53.

    Nutella

    @Mudge:

    Warren Buffett is not a sociopath. He considers himself part of a society that should work to make the less fortunate members better and have the more fortunate members have added responsibility.

    Or maybe Buffet simply realizes that if the 1% continue on their current trend and take over all the money and all the resources his own comfortable life will no longer be so comfortable. Fighting off the starving masses can be so inconvenient, you know?

    Maybe it’s because he’s a decent human being or maybe it’s just because he’s not stupid. Or possibly both, of course.

  54. 54.

    Chuck Butcher

    Ya know, wealth in itself doesn’t preclude humanity or decency, not just because it exists. There is something to be said in regards to the “how” of the getting it.

  55. 55.

    FlipYrWhig

    @Scott: IIRC Michael Moore did a bit along those lines on his old “TV Nation” show, and it may have been in Newt’s very own district.

  58. 58.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Nutella:

    Well, yeah. He’s read history. The 1% make great poster fodder for revolutions.

    That’s where this is going. Some “class traitor” ala FDR needs to save these idiots from themselves.

  59. 59.

    Special Patrol Group

    Warren Buffet:

    I want a government that is responsive to the people who got the short straw in life.

    vs.
    Mittens:

    Let me tell you something. America is a great nation, because we’re a united nation. And those who are trying to divide the nation, as you’re trying to do here, and as our president is doing, are hurting this country seriously. The right course for America is not to try to divide America, and try and divid us between one and another. it’s to come together as a nation.
    And if you’ve got a better model — if you think China’s better, or Russia’s better, or Cuba’s better, or North Korea’s better — I’m glad to hear all about it.
    But you know what? America’s right, and you’re wrong.

    Yeah.

  60. 60.

    pseudonymous in nc

    @Scott:

    in response to the inevitable wingnut rejoinder “Well, if Buffett doesn’t think he pays enough taxes, he can write a check”, have some rejoinder of your own

    I prefer this approach: “Here’s a baseball. Now go and win the World Series with it.”

  62. 62.

    Cacti

    Of course Mitt doesn’t want to perpetuate the tax system.

    He also wants to slash corporate taxes, and repeal the AMT and estate tax.

  64. 64.

    JoyfulA

    Why doesn’t the DSCC urge Buffett, the sage of Omaha, to run for that open Nebraska Senate seat?

  65. 65.

    MonkeyBoy

    @JoyfulA:

    Why doesn’t the DSCC urge Buffett, the sage of Omaha, to run for that open Nebraska Senate seat?

    Do you realize that he is 82 years old?

  68. 68.

    Rarely Posts

    “Of course he is 100% accurate.”

    Not according to PolitiFact. His argument is not conservative, and if it is intentionally misquoted/misread/misinterpreted, then it is a LIE!

  69. 69.

    Kyle

    And those who are trying to divide the nation, as you’re trying to do here, and as our president is doing, are hurting this country seriously.

    Shorter Rmoney:
    I’m the boss, you’re “The Help”. The Help is not entitled to complain, to fight back or even to mention the inequity of the system I’ve set up to privilege myself.

  70. 70.

    Bubblegum Tate

    @FlipYrWhig:

    It was in Newt’s district–he even got Newt on camera, though Newt wasn’t too happy about it. He was basically nailing Newt to the wall for railing about “government waste” when he was one of the biggest procurers of pork at the time. For example, Newt had gotten a whole bunch of Coast Guard money sent to his district in Georgia. Which was landlocked.

  71. 71.

    Chuck Butcher

    @Benjamin Franklin:

    What do you mean?

    Having a shit ton of money means you got it somehow. There actually are quite a few ways to get there, though it sure helps starting out with it. How you go about getting that shit ton of money can have a lot to say about you. About the only measure of someone’s motives you have is outcomes unless you can read minds. Making a lot of money is one outcome, there are others along with it. You can take a measurement of how the making money balances with the other outcomes and see where it stands.

    I’d say Mitt stands in the fuckhead catagory on balance.

  72. 72.

    Jebediah

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    That’s where this is going. Some “class traitor” ala FDR needs to save these idiots from themselves.

    I disagree insofar as I no longer give a fuck if those idiots are saved. If “tumbrel” goes from metaphor to reality, they will 100% have brought it upon themselves.

  73. 73.

    Jay in Oregon

    @KG:

    I’m of the mind that the tax code needs a complete overhaul. I’m also of the mind that it will never happen. Too many vested interests in protecting their little niches.

    The most compelling argument I’ve heard against trying to overhaul the tax code goes something like “No matter what we do to try to make the tax system more ‘fair’ in this country, corporations and the 1% will be in their Congresspersons’ office before the ink is dry, lobbying to get their exemptions back for their segment of the economy or to encourage ‘investment’.”

  74. 74.

    Paul in KY

    @redshirt: Sometimes I think VDE is painstakingly building his own in the basement. Sanding & polishing it, just waiting for the glorious day when various GOP scum can take a ride.

    Ah, a boy can dream, can’t he?

  76. 76.

    Paul in KY

    @Chuck Butcher: Most inherit it in some way. Romney inherited a substantial amount, Donald Trump got $20 mil, Bill Gate’s father was a millionaire, etc. etc.

  77. 77.

    evinfuilt

    Sad reading comments on that article. It’s as if everyone there somehow never heard of payroll taxes and how little the rich pay, and how much the rest of us do. Reagen was brilliant in making much of the Govt run off of a tax that is hidden from most.

    Income + Payroll tax is the real tax rate (excluding sales.) When you look at them combined, that’s when the largest differences appear from Earned and Unearned Income.

  78. 78.

    brantl

    @Mudge:Nope, this was never true. The greedy bastards were greedy bastards, once and forevermore. Some that got rich weren’t and they were and are few.

  79. 79.

    BenA

    @Scott:
    @Cassidy:
    One of my “favorite” things is that there’s always a sign for the next meeting of our local “Concerned Taxpayers” at the firehouse. Their so concerned about government waste that they waste government resources to meeting up and talk about being concerned about it.

    If I could stomach the morons who attend I’d show up and suggest they pay the city for their time.

    I’ve had to read various OpEds about the “palace” that our kids go to high school in… etc. Mostly jealous bitter old men.. “If it was good enough for me…” As if these bitter old social security recipients are actually paying for any of it.

  82. 82.

    WiseFather

    The growing awareness about the extreme income inequality and the very wealthy’s grip on our political system indicate that some form of class war is all but inevitable. I am developing a set of ground rules for a possible class war that would guide it in a peaceful and productive direction. The Rules for the Class War begin at this post: http://www.ragingwisdom.com/?p=585 I am open to hearing everyone’s comments and suggestions

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