To a government-for-all-seasons Progressive like Sherrod Brown, companies that build things are a necessary evil. They fund campaigns and pay taxes, but it’s not fair that private industry is better than government at making stuff. With that in mind, companies that build things which build other things are even more offensive. A company that builds things which build other things while consuming fossil fuels? Caterpillar, prepare to be soaked!
Now Soaking: Caterpillar
- Reuters lists Caterpillar CEO Douglas Oberhelman’s compensation as $10,550,300. Oberhelman has been a CAT executive since 2001, so he’s got enough money. His $10,550,300 will be much better spent by Sherrod Brown and Barack Obama!
- Caterpillar’s 2010 income statement lists $968,000,000 in corporate income taxes. That’s not even a billion dollars! CAT executives might as well be strangling minority grandmas with their bare hands! Let’s double that amount, lest spending cuts damage the rollicking recovery Sherrod Brown and Barack Obama have started.
- All said and done, doubling Caterpillar’s corporate income tax and taking their CEO’s pay will reduce the 2011 U.S. budget deficit from $1,620,000,000,000 to $1,619,021,449,700.
Fear not: this punitive tax policy won’t affect the price of heavy machinery or any of the building projects such machinery is used for. Although a “free market” is nothing more than evil fat-cats cheating helpless saps out of money, Sheriff Sherrod’s patrolling these parts! Supply, demand, risk, cost, and reward are shadows from the dark old days.
None of Caterpillar’s 104,490 employees will lose their jobs if Sherrod Brown and Barack Obama work their not-at-all-socialist magic. Last and least, the only funds & individuals holding any of Caterpillar’s 644,000,000 outstanding shares of stock who suffer will be the ones who deserve to.
We, The People who support Sherrod Brown’s fiscal policies, hold these leftist conceits to be self-evident.