You're making points about general economics and government financing while the comment was about Bill Gates specifically. Of course we're not going to say "everyone should pay more taxes if they want but taxes will stay as low as possible". But Bill is 70 years old and worth $100B. He no longer competes with anyone for resources or companies, he's no longer working to build his wealth and improve his quality of life. He's just hoarding wealth that he uses to influence policy on a scale that should be restricted to elected officials. If he really thinks the government needs more money and can do with less he can stop hiding taxes in charities.
ExLisper
Yes, I'm sure if Bill only has $20B instead of $120B he will go homeless.
He does not want to give up his relative position.
What does that even mean? He can pay more taxes but only if he still gets to be #4 richest man on the planet? How about stopping the idiotic race to be "the richest person the universe" instead? You know that being #1 or #5000 doesn't really change how insanely comfortable your life is. The entire race and just pure vanity.
He wants folks at his position to pay their share.
Don't be silly. He doesn't want anyone to pay more. It's just PR.
But Epstein said he can get $1B for his charity. He could not refuse a meeting. Where else could Bill get a $1B? Oh, wait...
So? You know that Bill can't really spend all his money so the extra wealth is used to influence policy on national and global scale. Charity is a perfect tool for that and Bill used his to influence American education policy for decades. The "it's not my money, I don't control it" is just PR and tax avoidance scheme.
In my experience Audi drivers are the worst. Whenever I see an idiot on the road there's always an Audi driver trying to out-idiot them right behind.
Really? That's insane.
Ok, you're on.
Charging $999 for a watch is the next idea Apple will steal from them.
Actually, millions of people watch Spanish TV.
This is what's nonsensical. "If Bill pays more taxes he might be only #10 richest man on the planet. Surely he can't do that." Yeah, it would be sooooo tragic if he would have only half of the money Elon Musk has.
As I said, at this point he's no longer building his wealth, his just hoarding money. I have no idea why you keep insisting that his wealth relative to other billionaires is so important. He's no longer competing with them for resources. He has millions times more than he can use in the rest of his life.