Mo’ money, mo’ problems

On Monday, President Barack Obama gave the usual debt reduction speech, but with an added pleasant surprise: the "Buffett Rule."

Named for Warren Buffett, a billionaire and prominent investor, the rule proposed that those who make over $1 million pay a higher federal income tax.

In a New York Times editorial, Buffett pointed out that he currently pays lower taxes than his secretary, as well as 20 other of his employees.

President Obama and Buffett agree that the super rich should be taxed more, however, various figures in the media and politics have spoken out against the rule.

After President Obama's speech that day, Bill O'Reilly boldly proclaimed that he would quit his job should his taxes be raised by 50 percent. 

"[My corporations] depend on me to do what I do so they can make a nice salary," he stated. "I like my job, but there comes a point when taxation becomes oppressive. Is the country really entitled to half a person's income?"

Why yes, Billy boy, I believe it is.

The average American makes a little over $46,000 a year and has to survive on that income. O'Reilly, though, rakes in $50,000 alone just for giving one lecture.  Forbes' website, www.forbes.com, also says that he made at least $9 million in 2005.

I suppose times would be tough for the poor thing if that pile of cash was substantially reduced. With the cost of living these days, I'm not sure how O'Reilly could live on $4.5 million.

John Fleming, a Republican congressman from Louisiana, shares O'Reilly's sentiments, sharing his concerns in an MSNBC interview.

"You know in this country, most people feel that being successful in their business is a virtue, not a vice," he said. "Once we begin to identify it as a vice, this country is going down."

Fleming, who had a gross income of $6.3 million last year, claimed that he only walked away with a small portion of that amount--$600,000. Awww, that's tough.

What are these still-wealthy men so unhappy about? Even after taxes take a decent chunk of their money, they remain rich.

They can afford food, a home and luxurious transportation. They can put their children through college, for crying out loud.

When there are families in this country who go hungry, who sleep in the streets because their houses are foreclosed on, who have to choose which child (if any) they're sending to school, how can these men complain about their taxes?

O'Reilly and Fleming, especially, should re-evaluate their priorities. This country has already been too generous to them, and now it's time to pay it forward.