Estate Taxes & Globalization: Buffett Joins Soros in Effort to Raise Taxes on Estates Dec. 11, 2012

Dec. 11, 2012

If it weren’t for the relatively new globalized business landscape, I would say Warren Buffett is a self-hating American.

This is why I am seeking Native American status, a freely associated state or my own country in the Philippines.  Warren Buffett, Soros and company will not pursue taxing Filipinos, Chinese or the richest man in the world Carlos Slim Helu of Mexico, even though we can trace their wealth back to this country.

I hope Warren Buffett & George Soros could relate to this, MY WAIS post offering for Halloween 2006.
Excerpt:

“The Philippines is one of the poorest countries in Asia, besting only Bangladesh. From 1946 to the present, billions of dollars of US taxpayer money have been given to the Philippines’ various administrations, through World Bank-IMF loans, US aid and grants. [We are being deep fried in our own lard. (Iginigisa tayo sa sarili nating mantika.)]
Along the lines of WAIS discussion on Collective Responsibility, my question is this: SHOULD THE CHILDREN OF WEALTHY “FILIPINOS” BE ALLOWED TO ENJOY THE UNEXPLAINED WEALTH THEY WILL RECEIVE FROM THEIR PARENTS, OR SHOULD THE BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE INHERITED WEALTH? (IN THIS CASE MESSRS. BUFFETT & SOROS WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE FAIR ESTATE TAX RATE FOR FILIPINO OLIGARCHS’ WEALTH, THE SAME AS HERE IN AMERICA? Remember these oligarchs never invented, discovered or developed any of the marvels & amenities upon which their wealth was built.)

In the August 2004 edition of Forbes Magazine, the 40 wealthiest people in Southeast Asia included seven from the Philippines. (Aug. 2004 three months after my Paper No. 8 5/21/2004)

These seven tycoons from the Philippines made their money buying and selling goods and services that originally came from the US. Part of their wealth comes from the remittance businesses, when OFW’s (Overseas Filipino Workers) from the US remit dollars back to the Philippines.

Mr. LUCIO TAN IS NOW 71 YRS. OLD and Mr. HENRY SY IS ALREADY 82, and sooner or later THE CHILDREN WILL INHERIT THEIR PARENTS’ fabulous & UNEXPLAINED wealth.

There are no anti-trust laws in the Philippines. Taxation is virtually non-existent. Hence it is not entirely these millionaires’ and billionaires’ fault that they were allowed to amass so much money. Maybe the UN, IMF and the World Bank have something to say here.

How do we correct the situation? This should be easier than whether or not reparations should be given to the descendants of African-American slaves of the 19th century.

JE comments: I did not know that the Philippines had such a plethora of multimillionaires. Yet barring some sort of social revolution, I am certain that they will bequeath all their wealth (or nearly all of it) to their heirs. Even should a massive redistribution of wealth occur (a very unlikely event), the ultra-rich are skilled at hiding their assets in out-of-reach places.

Philippines – Collective Responsibility 7 Richest Filipinos (Bienvenido Macario, Philippines) 10/31/06 2:25 am
http://waisworld.org/go.jsp?id=02a&objectType=post&o=11896&objectTypeId=6146&topicId=17

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If it weren’t for the relatively new globalized business landscape, I would say Warren Buffett is a self-hating American.

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Buffett Joins Soros in Effort to Raise Taxes on Estates

By Richard Rubin – Dec 11, 2012 8:56 AM PT

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-11/buffett-joins-soros-in-effort-to-raise-taxes-on-estates.html?cmpid=yhoo

 

Billionaire investors Warren Buffett and George Soros are calling on Congress to increase the estate tax as lawmakers near a decision on tax policies that expire Dec. 31.

In a joint statement today, Buffett, Soros and more than 20 other wealthy individuals asked Congress to lower the estate tax’s per-person exemption to $2 million from $5.12 million and raise the top rate to more than 45 percent from 35 percent.

Enlarge image

Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

2:44

Dec. 11 (Bloomberg) — Peter Cook reports on the call for higher estate taxes. He speaks with Deirdre Bolton on Bloomberg Television’s “Money Moves.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Enlarge image

Billionaire investors Warren Buffett and George Soros are calling on Congress to increase the estate tax as lawmakers near a decision on tax policies that expire Dec. 31. Photographer: Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg

An estate tax structured this way will “raise significant revenue to reduce the deficit and fund vital services, will only be paid by the top one percent of estates, will raise more from the wealthiest estates” and will simplify compliance, said the statement. It also was signed by John Bogle, founder of mutual fund company Vanguard Group Inc., and former President Jimmy Carter.

The renewed push for raising an estate tax faces significant opposition in Congress, where Senate Democrats including Max Baucus of Montana and Mark Pryor of Arkansas have joined Republicans to support the current estate tax parameters. That intra-party dispute caused Democrats to leave estate tax changes out of legislation they passed July 25 extending income tax cuts.

There’s probably enough support among Democrats to maintain the existing estate tax parameters, said Carolyn Lee, senior director of tax policy at the National Association of Manufacturers in Washington, which supports existing levels.

‘Multi-Generational Businesses’

“We think that family-held and multi-generational businesses are important,” she said. “It’s part of the American way of life.”

Changes to the estate tax are among the more than $600 billion in automatic spending cuts and tax increases scheduled to take effect in January.

If Congress does nothing, the amount one could exempt from the estate tax would drop to $1 million and the rate would increase to 55 percent. Obama wants to reinstate the 2009 levels, which include a $3.5 million exemption and a 45 percent top rate. Compared with continuing current policies, Obama’s plan would raise $119 billion over the next decade, according to his budget proposal.

Cutting estate taxes just means that someone else will have to pay for government, Bogle said.

“I’m more than happy for my own estate to pay my fair share,” he said today on a conference call with reporters.

Taxable Estates

In 2013, under the plan favored by Republicans, there would be an estimated 3,600 taxable estates in the U.S., according to the nonpartisan congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. Obama’s plan would double that number to 7,200. If Congress does nothing, 55,200 estates, or 2 percent of estimated 2013 decedents, would owe taxes.

Buffett, 82, is the chairman, chief executive officer and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A), and his $46.7 billion fortune as of yesterday places him fourth on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Buffett has long been a supporter of estate taxes. He testified before the Senate Finance Committee in 2007 and said the tax was necessary to “prevent our democracy from becoming a dynastic plutocracy.”

Buffett has committed most of his wealth to charities, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and organizations started by his three children. He has urged billionaires to agree to donate at least half their wealth in a campaign he co- founded with Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Chairman Bill Gates, the world’s second-richest person, who’s worth $62.7 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

‘Buffett Rule’

Contributions to charitable groups can be deducted from annual income and, at death, from the taxable value of an estate.

Obama has used Buffett’s call for higher taxes on capital gains to promote the “Buffett rule,” which would require a minimum tax rate for top earners.

Soros, 82, is chairman and founder of Soros Fund Management LLC. He is worth $21.6 billion, placing him at 24th on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He has donated more than $3 million to Democrats and has financed groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union.

Other signers of the statement include Bill Gates Sr., father the Microsoft chairman; Richard Rockefeller, chairman of Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc.; and Leo Hindery, managing partner of InterMedia Partners LP.

Rockefeller said on the conference call today that a higher estate tax rate encourages philanthropy, because it gives wealthy people an incentive to direct their money to causes.

The $4 million exemption per couple, indexed for inflation, is adequate, he said.

“Passing along $4 million is not trivial,” Rockefeller said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Richard Rubin in Washington at rrubin12@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jodi Schneider at jschneider50@bloomberg.net

Forbes 40 Richest Filipinos as of June 2012 ($47.43 billion total net worth)

For April 15, 2013:  Twenty-five years ago, there wasn’t a single rich Filipino listed in Forbes Magazine. Never mind the fact that none of the 40 richest Filipinos as listed on Forbes Magazine have not invented, developed or discovered anything of commercial value. Never mind the fact that all their wealth could be traced by to mostly American invention or development. They never came here and robbed any bank though. Go figure.

The U.S. does not levy any tax on these 40 richest Filipinos. This makes establishing one’s own country very desirable. If oligarch-traitors, their children and now their grandchildren are allowed to have their own country, why can’t we?

Forbes 40 Richest Filipinos–Total Net Worth June 2012 –   $47.43B  

US trade deficit as of October 2012                                                            $42.20B

Millennium Challenge Corp. Fund for the Philippines                               5.0B 

                                                                                                         $47.43B   $47.20B

I remembered where the $5 billion balance is to add to the US Trade Deficit column($42.2B + $5.0 Billion = $47.2 Billion)

As of August 2002 Millennium Challenge Corporation has set aside $5 billion for the Philippines. To this day this fund has yet to be released for lack of viable proposal.

US trade deficit grows to $42.2B because of fewer exports; deficit with China hits record high

By Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | Associated Press – 1 hour 22 minutes ago

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-trade-deficit-grows-42-134011017.html;_ylt=Aq29TWADL0hpNm17o1EPrNL2uYdG;_ylu=X3oDMTQ4cTk3ODhmBG1pdANUb3AgU3RvcnkgTGlzdCAgTm8gQ29sbGVjdGlvbgRwa2cDNzc0YTFlY2UtNWEwZi0zNzg0LTk1YzctNzBlZjVlOGE1MmRjBHBvcwM0MwRzZWMDdG9wX3N0b3J5BHZlcgMyMGUwODE4MC00M2IyLTExZTItYmZiNy05Yzk3ODkwODRjYjE-;_ylg=X3oDMTFlamZvM2ZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

Dec. 11, 2012 – According to this news the U.S. Trade Deficit as of Oct. 2012 is $42.2 BILLION. Whereas the total net worth of Forbes 40 Richest Filipinos as of June 2012 is $47.43 billion. So we need an additional deficit of $5.23 billion to close the ZERO SUM GAME OF GLOBAL FINANCE.This is quite an improvement since before I use to compare the net worth of the 40 Richest Filipinos with the budget deficit of one state only – California. It was always equal, a truly zero sum game.

California Budget Deficit             $26.6 Billion++ as of 03-29-11
40 Richest Filipinos–Total NW  $26.2 Billion~~ as of 03-09-11
+ ^^ ~~ – From Forbes Magazine

As Prof. Hilton asked in 2004, how much donation did any of these Forbes 40 richest Filipinos give to the ANNUAL victims of typhoon, flood and mudslide in the Philippines?

I’m calling this the ZERO SUM GAME OF GLOBAL FINANCE – 5th Edition 12-11-12

The silence of the World Bank, IMF & the UN regarding the Philippines where news are in plain English is quite deafening.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Bienvenido Macario
Lemuria
Ancora Imparo
IGA

Forbes 40 Richest Filipinos as of June 2012 – Total Net worth $47.43 BILLION
http://www.forbes.com/philippines-billionaires/list/

No. Name Net Worth ($millions)
1 Henry Sy & family $9,100
2 Lucio Tan & family $4,500
3 Enrique Razon, Jr. $3,600
4 John Gokongwei, Jr. & family $3,200
5 David Consunji & family $2,700
6 Andrew Tan $2,300
7 Jaime Zobel de Ayala & family $2,200
8 George Ty & family $1,700
9 Roberto Ongpin $1,500
10 Eduardo Cojuangco $1,400
11 Robert Coyiuto, Jr. $1,300
12 Tony Tan Caktiong & family $1,250
13 Lucio and Susan Co $1,200
14 Inigo & Mercedes Zobel $1,150
15 Emilio Yap $1,100
16 Jon Ramon Aboitiz & family $955
17 Andrew Gotianun & family $825
18 Manuel Villar $720
19 Beatrice Campos & family $700
20 Vivian Que Azcona & family $690
21 Alfonso Yuchengco & family $570
22 Mariano Tan, Jr. $420
23 Enrique Aboitiz & family $400
24 Eric Recto $365
25 Jose Antonio $300
26 Gilberto Duavit & family $270
27 Menardo Jimenez $265
28 Frederick Dy $260
29 Manuel Zamora $255
30 Alfredo Ramos & family $250
31 Oscar Lopez & family $245
32 Felipe Gozon & family $240
33 Betty Ang $235
34 Wilfred S. Uytengsu, Jr. family $230
35 Juliette Romualdez $200
36 Bienvenido Tantoco, & family $195
37 Jacinto Ng $190
38 Tomas Alcantara & family $160
39 Michael Cosiquien $150
40 Edgar Sia $140

TOTAL $47.43 BILLION
====================

US trade deficit grows to $42.2B because of fewer exports; deficit with China hits record high
By Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | Associated Press – 1 hour 22 minutes ago
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-trade-deficit-grows-42-134011017.html;_ylt=Aq29TWADL0hpNm17o1EPrNL2uYdG;_ylu=X3oDMTQ4cTk3ODhmBG1pdANUb3AgU3RvcnkgTGlzdCAgTm8gQ29sbGVjdGlvbgRwa2cDNzc0YTFlY2UtNWEwZi0zNzg0LTk1YzctNzBlZjVlOGE1MmRjBHBvcwM0MwRzZWMDdG9wX3N0b3J5BHZlcgMyMGUwODE4MC00M2IyLTExZTItYmZiNy05Yzk3ODkwODRjYjE-;_ylg=X3oDMTFlamZvM2ZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

Additional data:

RivCo: Next Budget is About $23m in Red – May 1, 2012

Economists says the 2012-13 County budget pushes the deficit even higher than expected.

By City News Service – May 1, 2012

http://palmdesert.patch.com/articles/rivco-next-budget-is-about-23m-in-red

 

Enrile says US $30-M military aid an ‘insult’ – May 7, 2012

http://www.tribuneonline.org/20120507/headlines/20120507hea4.html#.T6fojGx0GkE.facebook

Washington’s offer of $30-million foreign military financing (FMF) to the country made during a high-level meeting between the Philippines and United States’ Foreign and Defense officials is an insult.

That’s how Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile viewed the military aid promised to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, adding that it need not be sought by the government considering that such is a commitment made by the US under the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

Malacañang, Enrile said, should not accept such offer.

“They should provide military equipment. (They should comply) not only with the MDT. They signed a military assistance agreement with the Philippines, so they should comply with it.

While Enrile would not highlight the fact that the US government opted to stay neutral in the Philippines’ tension with China over territorial dispute in the Scarborough Shoal, the reported offer to boost the country’s military capabilities came as an “insult.”

“If I were the Aquino government, I would say ‘thank you,’ I do not need your $30 million. We can provide that $30 million for ourselves.”

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U.S. Purchases & Annexation from 1803 to 1899

“A lot of times, People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

– Steve Jobs co-founder,  Apple Inc.,  May 25, 1998 -BusinessWeek

 

So here goes: In 1898, under the Treaty of Paris, the Philippines, along with Puerto Rico and Guam was ceded to the U.S. by Spain for $20 million ending the Spanish-American War of 1898. To this day, Puerto Rico and Guam are still U.S. territories. 

Owner occupied lands are better cared for than rental properties. Non-paying occupants always trash other people’s lands.  Now think of the Philippine economy, the annual disasters, maritime accidents, the ongoing economic depression and continued environmental degradation in the Philippines that started in 1946.

Finally, compare the environment of and standard of living in the Philippines on one hand and that of Puerto Rico and Guam on the other.

There are so many educators, historians and writers who do not distinguish between a purchase and an annexation. To my knowledge, the U.S. made only ONE annexation ever that is the Hawaiian Islands in 1898.

Here’s the list of Selected U.S. Purchase and One Annexation from 1803 to 1899 . It is from the WAIS post entitled Turkey and the EU; Mexico and the US (Bienvenido Macario, Philippines) 02-09-07 . Is there another archipelago on this planet called Philippines? 

Additional link: http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/treaty.html

Notice: The Philippines, my ancestral land, is an abandoned U.S. Territory.  I hereby claim the Philippines. Finders keepers.

Bienvenido Macario Feb. 19, 2013

The American commissioners negotiated in a hostile atmosphere because all Europe, *except England*, was sympathetic to the Spanish side."
The American commissioners negotiated in a hostile atmosphere because all Europe, *except England*, was sympathetic to the Spanish side.”