It is not the consumption tax that has third world countries stuck in their third world country status, it is their form of government which is socialist or communistic in nature.If third world countries had a free market economy they wouldn’t be third world countries.I perfer a country where everyone has a chance to be the best they can be if they work hard and earn it themselves.In the case of the individuals who are poor through no fault of their own, that is what churches and charitable institutions take care of and help address the needs of the truly poor.Those who are poor through their own fault, you make uncomfortable in their poverty.

I think before you get Raptured up, the government is going to Rupture you up.

You are making faulty calculations.Even with the last compromise,7 trillion dollars will be added to the debt.We are now borrowing 41 cents of every dollar to run the government.My point to Matt was we don’t have a revenue problem as much as we have a spending problem.You keep attacking the wealthy and they will go other places.All of our green solar jobs have gone to China.The wealthy are leaving New York and California because of taxes and moving to Florida,Texas and other states.When the wealthy leave a state it causes debt problems and the same thing occurs when they leave the country.We don’t have a revenue problem that can be solved by killing the goose that laid the golden egg.Stop the damn spending.

You proved my point with your stats.I said you could take the money from the rich and you couldn’t pay off the national debt.You say the wealthy get 2.5 trillion and our debt is over $14,599,534,941,715.85 as of Aug.16-01:04:02 AM GMT.Thank you for assisting me.As I said @68, you can take all the money from the wealthy and you can’t pay off the national debt.Again, you must have attended public schools.

I’ve been aware of what has been going on.In Feb.of 1985 the world debt reach the point where there is not enough resources in the world to pay off that debt.I’m prepared for what is coming but when it comes you and others like you will be caught with your pants down.The person who is in for a shock are people like you who are uninformed and truly clueless.

You could take all the money from the rich in the country and you couldn’t pay off the debt.Let me give you an example of how much a trillion dollars represents.Lebron James makes 40 million a year playing basketball.In order for him to earn 1 trillion dollars, he would have to play in the NBA for 25,000 years.You read that right, 25,000 years.If you were educated in a public school,then I’m sure you couldn’t do the math.Don’t feel bad,neither can Geithner.

Responsible fathers have jobs and decent incomes,it is the irresponsible fathers that have no job or income.

I’m not rich financially because money doesn’t rule my life.But you don’t hear me complaining about what someone else has earned.I don’t think I’m entitled to what someone who decides to work 20 hours a day instead of 8 hours like myself.There are other things that are more important to me than just money but I dont cuss rich people for being rich.If you work 20 hours a day,I don’t think I or anyone else is entitled to 6 of your work hours to give us both 14 hours a day.It has nothing to do with being defective or lazy but just a different set of priorities.

Kassandra,I want to tell you what David Cameron,UK prime minister, had to say about the problems in the UK.He said the problem is moral decay of the culture.Children without fathers.Schools without discipline.Rewards without effort.Crime without punishment.Rights without responsiblities.Communities without control.Some of the worst aspects of human nature tolerated,indulged-sometimes even incentivised by a state and its agencies that in past have become literally demoralized.Its not Christian radio or Rush Limbaugh that has caused the problems in the UK or US but the moral decay of the culture and the rewarding of immoral behavior by government programs as cited by David Cameron.If more people listened to Christian radio, we might just be able to reduce some of the bad immoral behavior.Strongly suggest you keep your mechanic.

To set the record striaght, I am not a member of the plutocrats.I am an average citizen who doesn’t begrudge those individuals that have worked hard for what they earn.This class envy group should shut their mouth up and go try to join the rich.The problem we have in this country is one of moral decay.David Cameron,the prime minister of the UK said it best.Children without fathers.Schools without discipline.Reward without effort.Crime without punishment.Rights without responsibilities.Communities without control.Some of the worst aspects of human nature tolerated,indulged-sometimes even incentivised by a state and its agencies that in past have become literally demoralized.The same thing that is happening in European socialist countries will happen in America.We have to quit creating programs that reward bad behavior because when you reward bad behavior you only get more bad behavior.Again,if Buffet wants to pay more taxes, there is DEPT G.Wealthy people pay most of the taxes and the government wastes the money rewarding bad behavior.

For your information Mr. Buffet, Bureau of the Public Debt has 4000 employees with an annual budget of 400 million.

Dear Mr. Buffet there is no excuse if you feel that you don’t pay enough taxes.The government has another useless agency to handle your contributions.It is called Dept.G. I suggest you pay enough extra to cover my taxes so I can ask for a refund.Thanking you in advance but I won’t hold my breath.What we need is a consumption tax. The more you consume the more taxes you pay. No exemptions for anyone.Problem solved as everyone has skin in the game.