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You did. Are you really that dumb, or just forgetful? You said he found ways around the estate tax that other people don't have the means to do. Any estate which is subject to the estate tax (>$2MM) can be donated to charity, tax-free. How exactly is the $40 billion being treated differently than a $2+MM estate?

How are those with greater than $2MM but less than $40B in net worth unable to donate their estate to a charitable foundation upon death?

Your argument that he is a hypocrite centers around his "gaming" the system by donating $40B to charity. You're looking at it the wrong way. His official position (and the government's) is not that large estates should be taxed. Rather, it's that large estates bequeathed to one's family or friends be subject to tax. That "transaction" is taxed. The estate itself is not taxed, as it has already been taxed once. Charitable contributions are tax-deductible. Buffett is making a charitable contribution. If you give $50,000 while alive as a gift to your brother, he must pay the tax. If you make a $50,000 charitable contribution while alive, it is NOT taxed. If you want to argue whether all charitable contributions should be taxed, that's a completely different argument. He's not "gaming" the system. He's giving $40B to a good cause instead of ~$16B to Uncle Sam and $24B to people who don't need it. I think the belevolence of his actions speak to the fact that he's not "gaming" the system. Regardless of whether you believe it, he's not gaming the system.

I only resort to pathetically amateur psychoanalysis when arguing with people whose ill-conceived arguments are pathetically amateurish

"Foundations"? They go to charity!! The Gates' foundations get a majority of the $40B. Why should they be subject to the estate tax!? They're going to charitable organizations to fight AIDS and poverty! What's more, you do realize that his children don't get to keep the money and spend it on themselves, don't you? What don't you get? The gov't has taxed his income once already. The purpose of the estate tax is to penalize the wealthy for putting silver spoons in their childrens' mouths. I don't think he's putting a silver spoon in any 16-year old 60 pound Africans. He's likely given the government well over $10B in personal income tax over his lifetime. What more does he owe you!? Are you just jealous that he's a visionary and infinitely wealthier than you? He's jealous, and wants Buffett to finance 1 month at war with Iraq.

How does that make him a hypocrite!? He doesn't believe in freebies. He worked his ass off his entire life to earn every penny he has. He believes that good should be done with amassed fortunes, and if you're not going to, you should be taxed for it. What you said is analagous to the following, "What a hypocrite. He doesn't think you should be able to buy bullets at Wal-Mart and he doesn't even own a gun!!" "Gaming" the system by donating $40B to fight poverty and AIDS. You MUST be kidding.

He couldn't have found a more entertaining old lady to do it

Fogo has been mentioned PF Chang's has been mentioned as well Neisha Thai is inexpensive and very good quality in my opinion If you're looking for a good but pricy steakhouse, Ruth's Chris owns Morton's

I agree. I also think 96 is too many. I see 96 as being FAR better than 128. I'd prefer something on the order of 72. To your point around the 98th best team complaining, they would, but people wouldn't care as much because none of them would have a winning conference record in a tough conference.

I like the idea of expanding it to 96. It allows to better resolve the mid-major vs. middle-of-the-pack finished in a strong conference dispute. If the America East champion doesn't beat the 11th best Big East team, then we've answered (by allowing them to play on the court) the debate about whether some of those 14 seeds could even finish 12th in the major conferences... and everyone loves more basketball. 128 is ridiculous. 96 feels ok to me.

Ugh. I wish you didn't have to go through levels 1 and 2 again after failing level 3