[shishy]

That's completely missing the point. They could be doing it to raise awareness (when poor people complain about raising taxes, the rich won't really care, but if rich people start asking for it, then perhaps it'll have a better effect)?

Besides, what's wrong with virtue signaling if it also has beneficial consequences?

[MR4D]

Then just write a check to the IRS voluntarily and go around on Oprah and Ellen and get them to help browbeat others to do the same thing.

Why that is not an apparent option is beyond me.

People who “give to charity” at this scale have enormous tax breaks that are beyond comprehension. Giving that money to the IRS gives you ZERO tax breaks. This one fact should tell you everything about the people we are talking about.

[MR4D]

For people who downvoted me, I realize that this opinion is not popular.

However, one of the ways rich people keep control of their wealth is through all sorts of trust.

I highly recommend that people go Google “ charitable remainder trust” or GRATs and learn about them.

When billionaires give to charity, they are almost always getting something huge in return. They get to sorts of positive press as well.

I’m not arguing for or against any particular policy here, just that when billionaires ask for higher taxes, they’ve already gamed the system. It’s a way of looking good without actually doing good fat least, nowhere near as much as it looks).

[shishy]

Is it well established that money is used more efficiently to benefit citizens when it goes to the IRS versus a charity?

(What's wrong with someone getting tax breaks if it means they have to put money to a good cause to get it?)

[MR4D]

I have no idea. But higher taxes send money to the IRS so the question is irrelevant.

[BlueTemplar]

Money is power. Tax money is (at least in theory) democratically used.