Posted on 08/03/2011 9:01:15 AM PDT by magellan
Academy award-winning actor Matt Damon said he is "so disgusted" with what's happening in Washington over the debt limit, claiming that the Tea Party is "willing to drive it all off a cliff" and adding that it's "criminal" the wealthy are not paying higher taxes.
"I'm so disgusted man. I mean, no, I don't know what you do in the face of that kind of intransigence. You know, so my heart does go out to the President. He is dealing with a lot," Damon said in an exclusive interview at the "Save Our Schools March" in Washington, D.C. on Saturday.
When asked if he agrees with President Obama's call for a "balanced approach" as part of a deal to raise the debt limit, Damon said, "Yes, the wealthy are paying less than they've paid in any time else, certainly in my lifetime."
He continued, "It's criminal that like, you know, so little is asked of people who are getting so much, I mean, I don't mind paying more. I really don't mind paying more taxes. I'd rather pay for taxes than cut like 'Reading is Fundamental' or 'Head Start' or some of these programs that are really helping kids. I mean, why not? This is the greatest country in the world. Is it that much worse if you pay 6 percent more in taxes? Give me a break. You know, look at what you get for it. You get to be American."
Damon did not say the highest percentage he would be willing to pay in taxes but argued for tax reform.
"I mean, why not raise it per million bucks? Right? And then cap it somewhere," he said.
Damon also said those making over $250,000 per year are not job creators.
"Nobody went and started a business with their Bush tax cut. You know, I don't know who would believe something – that just defies common sense so no, that's – no. I was against those tax cuts. I thought they were ridiculous. So little is asked of the upper class anyway, you know. I mean, what percent of them or their kids are fighting in any of these wars?" he said.
Damon also called the Tea Party "completely intransigent" in terms of the debt ceiling debate.
"It's true. They are absolutely willing to drive it all off a cliff. They mean what they say, that's for sure," he said.
From reading what he said, it’s obvious he is an actor that simply reads a script that others have written
The "wealthy" are already paying for more than 70% of everything and the "poor" pay nothing. How much more than 70% would you think is fair and shouldn't everybody be laying something? Just to be fair, I mean.
BTW, Matt, you are always free to send in extra if you dong think you are being taxed enough as it is. Your move.
How do I make a contribution to the U.S. government?
Now you can pay your fair share and leave everyone else alone.
Someone should advise all these wealthy celebrities who are calling for higher taxes that there is no law prohibiting them contributing all their earnings to the government - best of all no further legislation is necessary.
What a complete and total idiotic moron.People making 250K+ a year are job creators. All local construction/hvac companies for starters.
Is Damon really this dumb? Was he cued to say this? He called tea party people cliff drivers so he thinks they push granny off the cliff in a wheelchair? No way he can be this dumb. Either he is this dumb or his hollywood communism is showing.
Maybe we should impose a special tax rate on actors.
“It’s criminal that like, you know,”
Fer sure!
Why stop there? Why not let the regime take it all and redistribute according to need?
(just in case: /sarc)
Typical Harvard grad who never had to work very hard to attain wealth.
Yesseree Bob.
The government doesn't have to tell you pay more taxes.
You should also tell the other Hollywood people to give more to the government.
Why not just raise Hollywood tax rate to 95%? How fast would they leave the town?
Pray for America
Statistics mean absolutely NOTHING to these clowns.
This is the fact free universe Liberals live in.
Damon’s talking 6%?
Hey, pay tax rates of 75 or 80% Matt, and we can talk.
What a complete tool. A good deal of our problems stem from people/invaders/freeloaders that are NOT American, do not want to be American, do NOT pay the taxes that Americans do but do want all that Free stuff.
Hey Matt, you fork over some of that easy gotten loot of yours and support a few programs and do not claim it on your taxes. If you Matt Damon, give 55% of your wealth now and for the next 8 years to education programs for inner city Americans, I'll vote for the big ZerO this time.
Damon doesn’t live in the real world.
He ranks right up there with Sean Penn who knows what its like to kill a man because he’s done it in movies.
FUMD!
What does he think is the income level of the small business owners, the people who run the dry cleaners, the restaurants, the auto repair shops? They are the ones in the middle, with enough income to be hit hard by taxes, but not enough to be able to take advantage of many loopholes.
In our seriousness, Republicans should be consistently pointing out the huge profits on the entertainment industry and demanding that all tax breaks be eliminated for “big hollywood.”
Top 1% pay 38% of the burden and top 5% pay 59% and the bottom 50% pay 3%. I am all for fairness let’s figure out a way to get the bottom 50% more productive. Leave the most productive folks alone Obama!!
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