Not a bad idea: For those who want to, there should be a way to donate 'extra' money

In some of the commercials touting the plan to drop the Bush tax cuts for the nation's wealthiest Americans, there is a woman who says she is rich and she "doesn't need the extra money."

Good for her -- and we should all admire her willingness to share. Never mind that the means to donate to those in need already exists -- it is called charities. If she wants to hand money over to the bureaucrats in Washington, more power to her.

But her statement suggests a really good idea.

Why not offer multi-millionaires -- especially those in Hollywood, entertainment and in professional sports who have more than they need -- the option of giving an extra 20 percent of their earnings to the government. Or better yet, require them to do so, call it a "no one is worth $200,000 an episode, $15 million a movie, or $50 million on the basketball court" tax.

So, instead of that fleet of Bentleys or that $14 million house, they could fund a school system or add a wing on a public health department. Or, they could fund a few thousand more government jobs. Think of all the czars we could have if somebody else was paying the bills.

Sounds like it has possibilities, doesn't it?

You would get a thank you card from the government when you make your "contribution."

And just think, we would not have to listen to anymore sanctimonious declarations from mega-rich stars on how we spend our money. There would be plenty for everyone. Sounds like a win-win to us.

Published in Editorials on December 10, 2010 9:57 AM