Piece Of Work

The Wise Ass (Oops) Oracle of Omaha went on his soap box again.

Stop Coddling the Super-Rich

I first wrote about Warren Buffett wanting the government to force him to pay more in taxes in 2007 and noted at the time, there's no law that prohibits Buffett from paying more in taxes.

Uncle Sam is still waiting on his check, so put your money where your mouth is and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Pat Buchanan challenged Buffett to set an example and send a check for $5 billion to the federal government.

Others note how Buffett profits from the taxes he supports, such as the inheritance tax, and how Buffett profits from government spending.

Interestingly, Buffett chose to leave most of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and, thus, avoided an estate tax that could potentially give 55 percent of his wealth to Uncle Sam.

Lastly, Buffett's plan would increase the nation's revenue by only about $50 billion a year.

Each year, the U.S. spends $1.3 trillion more than it collects in taxes.

Happy Homemaker?

An Urbandale business is suing, twice, to get its property assessment lowered.

Homemakers sues over assessment

Polk County has currently assessed the property at 25,950,000, but a Homemakers-paid assessor testified that he thinks the current market makes the building worth $9.05 million. The Homemakers President testified that he puts its value between $10 million and $12 million.

The issue I have is that Homemakers became a part of Nebraska Furniture Mart in 2000 and Nebraska Furniture Mart is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, who hasn't paid what it’s already owed for years in taxes to the IRS.

All this seems hypocritical of the Stop Coddling the Super-Rich and pay more in taxes belief of Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.