陳穎柔/綜合外電報導
投資大師巴菲特周二應希拉蕊陣營之邀出席一場募款活動,他趁機重申美國應進行稅法改革,好讓社會更公平。這場募款活動,因著巴菲特個人的商場魅力,為希拉蕊募到一百萬美元競選經費。
希拉蕊陣營周二在紐約市舉辦一場名為「與希拉蕊和巴菲特對話」的募款活動,總計整場活動的收入至少有一百萬美元。
巴菲特在座談會上提倡建立一個慈善且公平的社會。巴菲特指出,美國稅法應做大幅修改,因為現行法規並不公平,像他這樣的有錢人竟享有賦稅假期。巴菲特建議對私募股權公司經理人和非常有錢的人加稅。
他舉例說,他去年賺四千六百萬美元,適用所得稅率為一七.七%,反觀他辦公室的秘書們(個人年薪約六萬美元)之適用所得稅率平均為三二.九%,最高者甚至到三九.七%。
巴菲特為證明所言不虛,甚至對與會者懸賞一百萬美元獎金,只要有人能舉證美國富人有一個人的適用所得稅率是比其任何下屬的適用所得稅率還要高。
巴菲特表示,民主黨在照顧弱勢上更勝共和黨。整場座談為時約一小時,多數時間是巴菲特在發言,希拉蕊倒成了配角,比較常看到她對巴菲特的發言連連點頭稱是。
座談與會者的發問包括,美國競爭力、智慧投資、教育,甚至全球核子威脅。巴菲特強調,他和其他美國幸運兒(有能力買票進場者)有義務照顧弱勢者。他說,大家在二○○八年有機會修復許多傷害。巴菲特的意思是,美國總統要換黨做。
身為民主黨員的巴菲特之前就表示,他欣賞希拉蕊和民主黨另一位爭取出馬競選總統的參議員歐巴馬(Barack Obama)。預料巴菲特將在不久後為伊利諾州參議員歐巴馬主持一場募款活動。
巴菲特雖未在座談場合為希拉蕊拉票,但據晚宴賓客的說法,巴菲特稱希拉蕊是下屆美國總統最佳人選。







挖賽,連超級投機資本家都說要提高富人稅了,台灣卻還在對富人減稅,這篇應該當作「企業社會責任」範本寄給所有政府官員、立委和老闆。
以下是華盛頓郵報的原文:
Buffett Slams Tax System Disparities
Speech Raises at Least $1 Million for Clinton Campaign
By Tomoeh Murakami Tse
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 27, 2007; Page D03
NEW YORK, June 26 -- Warren E. Buffett was his usual folksy self Tuesday night at a fundraiser for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) as he slammed a system that allows the very rich to pay taxes at a lower rate than the middle class.
Buffett cited himself, the third-richest person in the world, as an example. Last year, Buffett said, he was taxed at 17.7 percent on his taxable income of more than $46 million. His receptionist was taxed at about 30 percent.
Buffett said that was despite the fact that he was not trying to avoid paying higher taxes. "I don't have a tax shelter," he said. And he challenged Congress and his audience to see what the people who "clean our offices" are taxed, to loud applause.
A populist tone permeated the 70-minute talk with the billionaire investor and philanthropist in Manhattan on Tuesday night. The talk, given to about 600 Wall Street bankers and money managers, raised at least $1 million for Clinton's presidential campaign, the Associated Press reported.
The event comes as public frustration has grown over executive compensation and disparity in pay. It also comes as Congress debates changes to the tax code that would decrease take-home pay for managers of private-equity firms and hedge funds, pools of money for wealthy families and institutional investors. The rich can take advantage of tax loopholes, including one that allows those managers to pay the capital gains tax rate of 15 percent instead of the ordinary top income tax rate of 35 percent.
Buffett said that he and other privileged Americans must do more to help the less fortunate.
"We have the chance in 2008 to repair a lot of damage," Buffett said.
"We have a wonderful economy. . . . Our problem is how we conduct ourselves in the world." Buffett, the chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, has not endorsed Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.
But he has already donated the maximum $4,600 allowed by an individual to Clinton's presidential campaign. Buffett called Clinton "the person to run the country." He has not donated to any other candidate, according to public records, although he has said he would also support Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in a similar event.
Buffett is on the board of directors of The Washington Post Co.
Clinton acted as moderator. Topics included Buffett's views on the impact of the real estate slump on the economy (he doesn't see it spilling over to the broader market) and how to get started in investing (you are more likely to find diamonds in the rough among small companies).
Clinton finished by asking Buffett, "Why are you a Democrat?"
Buffett said he thought Democrats would do a better job in evening out the field for those who had drawn the unlucky tickets in life.
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