'Gates for President' Group Gives Up

netbuzz writes "Dilbert creator Scott Adams had done his best to make this fantasy (or nightmare, depending on your point of view) a viable notion, but after three months of trying the group's leader has acknowledged that it's unlikely Gates will give up his current gig. They've tossed in the towel." Here is our original coverage of this ill-conceived plan.

This was never about Gates anyway

[ghoti]

This was a pure publicity stunt for Adams. He just picked a well-known person and made a big fuss to get his name into the headlines again. Gates is the perfect person for watercooler talk, since everybody knows him and has something (good or bad) to say about Microsoft. There was no chance this would ever lead anywhere, and now that they see that they won't get more publicity out of it, they're doing one last stunt (We give up! Too bad! We tried so hard!) and let it die with a bang.

Re:Bill Gates ain't the worst guy in the world

[jafiwam]

Uhm... No.

In fact, he defends the tax so much he wrote a book about it. The argument of the book is basically saying the law that is in place is too lenient and it should be repealed for something like the old one that didn't have loopholes. He wants the rich to pay more taxes when they die.

From Wikipedia:

Gates is co-author, with Chuck Collins, of the book Wealth and Our Commonwealth: Why America Should Tax Accumulated Fortunes, a defense of the estate tax.[2]

The book on Amazon.com Wealth and Our Commonwealth: Why America Should Tax Accumulated Fortunes [amazon.com]

I haven't finished it yet because I use it to fall asleep... however your statement is not true in fact and spirit.

Re:OF COURSE he does!

[Otter]

He is a massively multi-billionaire. What billionaire would not oppose the inheritance tax?

Gates and his father oppose the repeal of the tax, not the tax. (Presumably the OP meant to say that).

Re:Bill Gates ain't the worst guy in the world

[lawpoop]

"He opposes the inheritance tax, like his dad..."

I don't know about Bill Gates, but William H. Gates Sr., the father of Bill Gates, supports the inheritance tax.

From Now with Bill Moyers: [pbs.org] "There's a campaign to restore the inheritance tax. And it's being led, believe it or not, by some of the country's richest people including Bill Gates, Sr. ..."

From Alternet.org: [alternet.org] "Case Against Inheritance Tax Is Bogus", By Chuck Collins and Bill Gates, Sr., AlterNet. Posted September 15, 2005.

The reason is obvious -- without the inheritance tax, the US would develop a wealthy aristocratic class. This is one of the main reasons the founding fathers broke away from Britain and developed a constitutional Republic.

Estate tax deduction too high in the USA

[spun]

You don't have to pay ANY estate tax unless you have over $2,000,000. That is far too high. Every other form of income is taxed without a two million dollar deduction. Why is the estate tax so limited? Think of how few people have over two million saved. Yet so many people who this tax will never effect want it eliminated entirely. I say reduce the deduction to $200,000 or less.

Re:Yes! That's a horrible idea!

[Viper Daimao]

You really should read more about the actual proposals for fair (and flat) taxes. Most of your arguments are addressed there. Such as the national dividend that your child (and my brother/sister) poster mentioned. Your other arguments seem to be attacking supporters which is generally bad form. As always, wikipedia [wikipedia.org] is a good place to start.

Obligatory FairTax plug

[Staale Nordlie]

The FairTax proposal addresses most of your objections.

Everyone gets a monthly prebate covering the tax on spending up to the poverty level. This eliminates taxes altogether for the truly poor, and makes the tax effectively progressive.

True, there's a limit to how hard you can punish success and productivity with such a tax, but the overall effect on the economy and, dare I say it, fairness, more than makes up for that.

Website: http://www.fairtax.org/ [fairtax.org]
Summary: : http://www.fairtax.org/fairtax/thumbnail.htm [fairtax.org]

Re:Bill Gates ain't the worst guy in the world

[kjshark]

You've been watching too much fox "news". Dead people do not pay taxes. The "Death Tax" is a misnomer created by people against the estate tax. The inheritors pay tax when money changes hands to them from an estate.

Re:Scott Adams is a dolt

[maynard]

And massive securities inflation which led to a crash and then over a decade of economic travesty. Isn't there a better 'middle path'?