Citizens as mere ATM machines? Mickelson taking on the role of Depardieu. - Granite Grok

Citizens as mere ATM machines? Mickelson taking on the role of Depardieu.

Phil Mickelson:

“But if you add up, if you add up all the federal and you look at the disability and the unemployment and the Social Security and the state, my tax rate’s 62, 63 percent. So I’ve got to make some decisions on what I’m going to do,”

 I waited a couple of days to see what would shake out from this – he is now backing down from those words (er, he was scared of offending somebody?).  Why are people so scared of saying the truth?  There have been a couple of “guesstimates” and they came up with slightly lower levels of taxation, the actual fact remains: 50%, 55%, 60%, 65% – when it gets to the point that Government becomes an equal partner in your income (or worse, piggybacking on your back for even more), is that really moral?  Are we really still free at that point – or lying to ourselves?

Sure, French actor Gerald Depardieu was excoriated for moving to Belgium to get away from the now exorbitant 75% French millionaire tax (and has now moved to Russia).  His declaration was “I am a free Citizen”.  Neal Boortz retired from being a very successful talk host for the same reason – he was not going to work simply to give Government money.

Mickelson is now embarrassed about his words – I think that is a mistake.  It IS about the Proper Role of Government – when Government receives more from your efforts than you do, are you really able to keep the honor of being a free Citizen?

I think not.

Remember: a Government that tries to ‘cure’ income inequality is, in truth, a very selfish Government – it, and the politicians driving it, want everything for themselves.

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