In an interview with Larry King, Bill Gates admitted that he has paid over six billion dollars in taxes. SIX BILLION!!!!!!!!!!! That would be enough to give each person on earth a one dollar bill. That sum is staggering, almost incomprehensible. When I heard it, I immediately had the image of Gates traveling around with a huge sack of singles passing them out to every...single...person...on...earth! He said he is even in favor of estate taxes- which most wealthy people aren't a fan of at all- and having the top earners contribute even more in taxes than they already do. He favors having the rich pay in at a proportionate amount to those in the middle class, and not having the advantage of so many tax shelters. After hearing Gates speak for an hour, I like him more than I did before. He is surely a compassionate man, having established his foundation to give away almost all of his estate. His opinions on other issues suggest that he isn't as out of touch as one would expect the richest man in the world to be.
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