[SeekAndFind]

According to Treasury Data and the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), the revenue raised by the Buffett Rule over an entire decade would

* Fund just 23 days of Social Security benefits.

* Alternatively, you could defend the nation for 25 days.

* Ten years of the Buffett Rule would pay for what the U.S. borrows every 17 days or what Washington spends every 4-1/2 days.

In other words, it would not even put a dent in our deficits and debt.

[FreeAtlanta]

or just the Buffoon Rule. The buffoons’ ploy to get the buffoon vote.

[richardtavor]

What about the 51% that don’t pay any taxes at all? Is that fair?

[morphing libertarian]

Does anyone have info or a link regarding Buffet owing back taxes

[olezip]

We're told this is necessary because highly successful Americans just aren't pulling their weight or paying their fair share.

The "fair share" argument does not make much sense when we have a government that has a well documented record of fiscal irresponsibility. Fair share has been demonstrated to be a "moving target" time and again. The government does not even have a budget, but just spends, borrows, prints money, and complains that too many people are not paying their "fair share." Crazy policy by legislators with disordered minds.

The Democrats will NEVER have enough of other peoples money to spend. Have they ever?

[sickoflibs]

It’s just a political gimmick to beat Republicans over the head with.

Obama waited to Republicans proposed spending cuts then ponced.

Seems somewhat effective, it’s one gimmick of many.

[Lou L]

In my opinion, the Buffett Rule was only for precedent. Once enacted, it would give the president room to say, "The rich are paying more...now it's only fair to ask everyone else to pull a little more of the weight, too."

Sure, he might then let us off paying a little less in terms of percentage, but it would likely be a large hit to everyone's income.

All the while, the debate will be what percentage this person or that person pays is irrelevant. We should be asking what we're getting for our money, and we should be asking whether or not it's proper to have the expectation as to whether or not the government should provide programs from cradle-to-grave. (The answers to the last two questions are "very little" and "no.")