Ask, And Ye Shall Receive?

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is really starting to bug me with all his blathering about just "asking" the wealthy to do their "fair share" to be taxed more. In truth, there is no "asking" when the tremendous power of the modern federal government to compel is what really happens. Reid sounds more like some mobster suggesting payment schedules to a local shopkeeper lest a horrible accident happen to his business.

If it is "asking," why don't all the left wing millionaires and billionaires who advocate for higher taxes just contribute more? They could, after all, pay more with no change in the law. All these wealthy individuals saddled by guilt that they don't give more need to do is stop taking some of the many exemptions they are allowed in our tax code.

Really. No law says you must take those deductions. Tell their lawyers not to take those charity deductions. Don't take that deduction for state taxes paid. Don't structure your assets to minimize your tax liability. Really, get those accountants and tax lawyers who work for you focused on increasing the taxes you pay rather than minimizing them as they surely do now.

Surely that isn't too much to ask of our Concerned Americans.

Do that and then we can talk about raising taxes on everyone. Well, after spending cuts in a reasonably perfect world that understands that our ginormous spending is the cause of our deficit spending rather than how much money rich people pay in taxes.

Is that asking too much?

UPDATE: Thanks to Stones Cry Out for the link.