Civic Penury . . . and Its Opposite
I don’t what it makes you, but somehow, I don’t think being a billionaire who manages to pay zero federal income taxes makes you “smart.”
Maybe “greedy” or “crafty” or “callous,” but not definitely “smart” — especially if you think you’ll ever run for President.
“But,” you say, “maybe said individual compensates for their civic penury by generously donating millions to the less fortunate, through their private charity?”
Or at least gives their time to worthy causes (vs. say, pro wrestling and beauty pageants).
Keep dreaming . . .
“Smart?” How About “Unpatriotic?”
So, if we can all agree that the above profile does not sound like the ideal candidate for President, what does?
How about its opposite?
Specifically, how about identifying which individual(s) pay the most income taxes, and give away the most to charity?
All confirmed, of course, by third parties (including the IRS).
Anyone able to pay/give away hundreds of millions or even billions is surely sophisticated enough to have figured out how, legally, NOT to have disbursed such sums.
The fact that they didn’t suggests — at least to me — not adjectives like “smart” and “business-savvy,” but “patriotic,” “virtuous,” and “public-spirited.”
How nice would it be for the next President to have those qualities??
