Guess why Facebook CEO was able to give 100 million to education?

[Wiglaf]

The top 5% have some of the lowest tax rates ever in the last 100 years. If rolling back bush era tax breaks will make them cry this much, I'd hate to see the stink they raise if we went back to a 40's era tax structure.

Have you ever seen the wealth distribution? The top 5% of people have over 60% of the wealth in the country. That leaves the other 95% of us to handle the 40% that is left over. I kind of have a problem with this. Wanting to bring things to a better balance doesn't make me a socialist. We weren't a socialist nation in the 20's or the 40's.

[z31maniac]

1. Same here, I take the standard deduction + my mortgage interest. I will admit that I'd have to do a bit more research, I just remember a few articles about it a while back.

2. You're a better man than I. (I'm enjoying a nice chilled glass of Boulevard Tank 7 as I type this.)

[z31maniac]

The top 5% have some of the lowest tax rates ever in the last 100 years. If rolling back bush era tax breaks will make them cry this much, I'd hate to see the stink they raise if we went back to a 40's era tax structure.

Have you ever seen the wealth distribution? The top 5% of people have over 60% of the wealth in the country. That leaves the other 95% of us to handle the 40% that is left over. I kind of have a problem with this. Wanting to bring things to a better balance doesn't make me a socialist. We weren't a socialist nation in the 20's or the 40's.

So do you really think that higher tax rates on the rich will fix this?

[Mfever]

I think you are forgetting the main reason for giving to these charities... help people out right?? wrong!!! Its a fuckin tax break !

[KenC]

2. You're a better man than I. (I'm enjoying a nice chilled glass of Boulevard Tank 7 as I type this.)

Meh, I wouldn't go that far haha, I just do what I enjoy. It's much less of an obligation once it becomes part of your schedule.
I'd have a gin & tonic in my hand if I wasn't at work right now haha. The only consolation is that I'm flying to Germany for Oktoberfest tomorrow morning :).

[e30e]

The top 5% have some of the lowest tax rates ever in the last 100 years. If rolling back bush era tax breaks will make them cry this much, I'd hate to see the stink they raise if we went back to a 40's era tax structure.

Have you ever seen the wealth distribution? The top 5% of people have over 60% of the wealth in the country. That leaves the other 95% of us to handle the 40% that is left over. I kind of have a problem with this. Wanting to bring things to a better balance doesn't make me a socialist. We weren't a socialist nation in the 20's or the 40's.

You have a problem with 95% of us poor and normal people taking responsibility for 40% countries bills....I don't see the logic in that.

[reelop19]

Wow I knew this would get the libs to come out of the woodwork but you dirty libs descended on this topic like it was about Sarah Palin. You all missed the point naturally. Socialist and communist countries can't donate as much because all their money is taken by the government and spent inappropriately. And to the dumbass who thinks this 100 million dollar donation is socialist I don't even know what to say. A private individual from a private company donating money to a school system by his own choice is not even close to socialism.

[CorvallisBMW]

Please go kill yourself, we're bored of your trolling.

[mrsleeve]

The top 5% have some of the lowest tax rates ever in the last 100 years. If rolling back bush era tax breaks will make them cry this much, I'd hate to see the stink they raise if we went back to a 40's era tax structure.

Have you ever seen the wealth distribution? The top 5% of people have over 60% of the wealth in the country. That leaves the other 95% of us to handle the 40% that is left over. I kind of have a problem with this. Wanting to bring things to a better balance doesn't make me a socialist. We weren't a socialist nation in the 20's or the 40's.

really are you kidding me?????


Pick up a book or 2 about history and FDR, Wilson, the depression the 20's, the market crash of 1920, then again in 29. once you get that done get back to me and tell me what you think.

[Wiglaf]

You have a problem with 95% of us poor and normal people taking responsibility for 40% countries bills....I don't see the logic in that.

Well, the logic flaw is that you kind of made a jump that wasn't there. Having 40% of the wealth and taking responsibility for 40% of the nation's bills aren't the same thing..

[Todd Black 88]

1. Same here, I take the standard deduction + my mortgage interest. I will admit that I'd have to do a bit more research, I just remember a few articles about it a while back.

2. You're a better man than I. (I'm enjoying a nice chilled glass of Boulevard Tank 7 as I type this.)

You guys get to write off the interest on your mortgage? Do you pay capital gains when/if you sell, if the value of the property goes up?

[mrsleeve]

Well, the logic flaw is that you kind of made a jump that wasn't there. Having 40% of the wealth and taking responsibility for 40% of the nation's bills aren't the same thing..

the top 1% of income earners pay something like 60% of the taxes and the bottom 50% of income earners DONT PAY ANY FEDERAL TAXES.

Taxes explained with beer

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

* The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
* The fifth would pay $1.
* The sixth would pay $3.
* The seventh would pay $7.
* The eighth would pay $12.
* The ninth would pay $18.
* The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that’s what they decided to do.

The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. “Since you are all such good customers,” he said, “I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.” Drinks for the ten now cost just $80 total.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men – the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his ‘fair share?’ They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:

* The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
* The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
* The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
* The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 ( 25% savings).
* The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 ( 22% savings).
* The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

“I only got a dollar out of the $20,” declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,”but he got $10!”

“Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a dollar, too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I!“

“That’s true!!” shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!“

“Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison. “We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!“

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

[blunttech]

The top 5% have some of the lowest tax rates ever in the last 100 years. If rolling back bush era tax breaks will make them cry this much, I'd hate to see the stink they raise if we went back to a 40's era tax structure.

Have you ever seen the wealth distribution? The top 5% of people have over 60% of the wealth in the country. That leaves the other 95% of us to handle the 40% that is left over. I kind of have a problem with this. Wanting to bring things to a better balance doesn't make me a socialist. We weren't a socialist nation in the 20's or the 40's.

then go out and take the steps needed to better your life and make more money. jesus christ

[Raxe]

then go out and take the steps needed to better your life and make more money. jesus christ

Perfect answer.

You want more money? Work for it like everyone else. Stop expecting government handouts.

[KenC]

Socialist and communist countries can't donate as much because all their money is taken by the government and spent inappropriately.

Official Development Assistance by country as a percentage of GNI (April 2010)

Large countries scored relatively high on the preceding list, because they have more citizens and thus more money. To provide an alternative perspective, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development also lists countries by the amount of money they give as a percentage of their gross national income. This list is as follows:[2]

* 1. Sweden - 1.12%
* 2. Norway - 1.06%
* 3. Luxembourg - 1.01%
* 4. Denmark - 0.88%
* 5. Netherlands - 0.82%
* 6. Belgium - 0.55%
* 7. Finland - 0.54%
* 8. Ireland - 0.54%
* 9. United Kingdom - 0.52%
* 10. Switzerland - 0.47%
* 11. France- 0.46%
* 12. Spain - 0.46%
* 13. Germany - 0.35%
* 14. Canada - 0.30%
* 15. Austria - 0.30%
* 16. Australia - 0.29%
* 17. New Zealand - 0.29%
* 18. Portugal - 0.23%
* 19. United States - 0.20%
* 20. Greece - 0.19%
* 21. Japan - 0.18%
* 22. Italy - 0.16%
* 23. South Korea - 0.10%