The Tax Man Cometh

I’m reluctant to write this because I don’t want it to appear as chest-thumping but here it goes…I paid my taxes, a patriotic duty according to Vice-President Biden. This year my wife and I gave 11.3% of our adjusted gross income (AGI) in cash donations to charity. We don’t advocate “spreading the wealth” but the vice-president does. So let’s look at his charitable contributions over the past few years.

In 2009, Vice-President Joe Biden and his wife had an adjusted gross income of $333,182. They made $3,920 in cash donations and $900 in-kind donations, for a grand total…drumroll please $4,820. Math was never my strong suit but I’m guessing it’s not quite the Biblical standard of a tithe.

During the election, Biden and his wife released their tax returns for the years 1998 through 2007. In 2007, the Second Couple gave $995 to charity on an AGI of $319,853. In no other year did they give more than $380 to charity–their stingiest year being 1999 when on an AGI of $210,797 they claimed a $120 charitable deduction.

What a person gives to charity is a personal decision. I’m not suggesting otherwise. But when the main thrust of a politician’s platform and policy is to “spread the wealth,” it seems obvious Number 2 and his wife have no intention of spreading their personal wealth, just everyone else’s.

I would like to challenge the VP and his followers to match our percentage of giving to charity. I will even accept contributions to Planned Parenthood, NPR, or any 501(c) charity. If they believe in the cause, as we do with those charities we support, it would lessen the need for tax-payer support. With my plan, we reduce the deficit but as an added benefit, I just know those advocates will feel soooo much better about themselves for “spreading the wealth.”