Arguing with Idiots - The poor poor
October 22, 2009 - 12:38 ET
GLENN: Yes, when your idiot friend comes to you and says...
PAT: I am so sick of you conservatives just wanting the rich to get richer, the healthy to get healthier, the fat to get fatter. The system is set up against the poor.
GLENN: Yeah. By now even you, the king of the idiot people this side of the White House communications department must know that the bottom 50% of earners only pay 3% in income tax.
PAT: Oh, well, I guess you must surely know that Warren Buffett even thinks the rich should pay higher taxes. He's pretty rich. And then he says the secretary who makes about 60 grand per year pays a higher rate than he does.
GLENN: Wow.
PAT: Yeah, I know.
GLENN: That's impressive, huh?
PAT: It's ridiculous.
GLENN: First of all, if Warren Buffett wants his secretary to take home more money, I'm mildly sure he can make that happen. He is the third richest man on Earth. He probably can pay his assistant more than $62,000 a year and make that problem go away.
PAT: Oh, you know what he meant. It's not just about her. Everyone who makes around 60 grand is paying a lower rate than the ultra rich. How about Mr. Failed how about that, Mr. Failed gym membership?
GLENN: It's almost like you misread the script.
PAT: But not quite because I'm not reading any script. It's just right off the I'm just responding to your stupidity.
GLENN: That's not even close to being true. If you read on Page 191
PAT: If I did that to you every time you misread a script, we would never get through one of these.
GLENN: The number one New York Times best seller, Arguing With Idiots. The effective rate for somebody in the middle class like Mr. Buffett's secretary.
PAT: Come right out of, right out of character there, just wreck this thing.
GLENN: 14.2%. Got it? Effective rate.
PAT: No.
GLENN: Middle class, 14.2%. For the super duper rich, the top .01% of all earners, the federal income tax burden is...
PAT: Yeah?
GLENN: 31.5%.
PAT: So?
GLENN: I mean, well, 31.5% is more than 13.2%. I don't know if you did you catch that? You have a calculator?
PAT: Since Buffett is so close to buffet, I think you could understand this.
GLENN: Of course the fat jokes.
PAT: But Warren Buffett pays a lower rate on a lot of his income because of the capital gains tax rate.
GLENN: I'm sorry. Why?
PAT: Why what?
GLENN: Why is the rate lower?
PAT: Because capitalism is unfair, and you're overweight!
GLENN: Again with the fat jokes. The capital gains tax rate. See, it's not the answer you just gave. It's because the government knows that capital investments create jobs. So they would like to incentivize more of those, you know, crazy job things. You know what I mean? You see, the ugly truth is Warren Buffett can pay as high of a tax rate as he wishes. In case Warren is listening and I'm sure he is let me help him out. If he believes that giving his money to the government can do a better job helping people or creating more jobs than the private sector, first of all, cancel all of your charitable giving. Then combine that money with the extra amount you want to pay in taxes and send your checks directly to... gifts to the United States, U.S. Treasury department, credit accounting branch, 3700 East West Highway. Isn't it amazing that the government would be on East West Highway, Room 622 D, Hyattsville, Maryland, 2782.
PAT: 2782.
GLENN: 20782.
PAT: 20782, hmmm, is that your total weight in tons or the combination to your home fruit pie locker? Which is it?
VOICE: Arguing With Idiots, available at bookstores everywhere. Or order now at GlennBeck.com/bookczar.
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