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Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.

Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Opus 2013-87: On the Street: The Millionaire Across the Table

I had an interesting discussion with my friendly neighborhood philanthropist this week.  It seems that he made a mistake in his investments and made too much money.  Now he was going to have a high tax bill.  Since he voted for Obama and thinks that the rich need to pay more I told him he should be glad that he can participate in the redistribution of wealth.  He got a sour look on his face.  It seems it’s a little different when it is your money and you are the rich in question.

He had a solution though.  It is called a tax loophole.  He went through his investments and looked for the losers he had accumulated and was hanging on to hoping they would go up.  Since that doesn’t seem to be happening he is proceeding to sell them at a loss.  He will keep doing this until the taxes he owed are down to zero.

I have no problem with this in general principle nor in specific instance.  I think profits should belong to the person who took the risk, not the government.  In his case, all the profits he makes will be donated to one charity or another without the government taking its cut, so it is a win-win.

What amazes me is that the politicians keep thinking they are so smart that they can set up a system that keeps people smarter than them from accumulating wealth.  They could, but it would destroy the politicians too.  Every time they set up a system, smarter people find a way around it.  It is us simple folk in the middle that lose. 

I just hope that I never become one of the charities that he donates to.

homo unius libri

2 comments:

  1. You aren't tax-deductible, so you're safe from his charity! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Now that is one angle that I never thought of. I guess I can relax.

    Grace and peace.

    ReplyDelete

Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.