Warren Buffett Says: Stop Coddling the Super Rich

Warren Buffett had an op-ed piece today in the New York Times where he addresses taxation of the very wealthy.  While he makes a few good points, his main argument, at least to me, has been flawed since he first started making it long ago.  The idea that these "coddled" super-rich must await an act of Congress to give money to the government is simply wrong.  Most Americans, politicians, and perhaps Buffett himself do not know that the Treasury actually has a bureau already set up to take donations "from individuals wishing to express their patriotism to the United States."  That's a direct quote from the Treasury's Financial Management Service Bureau's website: http://www.fms.treas.gov/faq/moretopics_gifts.html .  Another fact is that this special bureau has existed since 1843.  So instead of piling on more legislation, tax code, and regulation, how about we use the legislation we've already had on the books for 168 years.  You know, if we did that, maybe we wouldn't have to spend so much money each day just to keep the doors of the government open.

So, I say to Mr. Buffett and his "coddled" friends, please remit your donations to the FMS as soon as you are ready and able.