The Worst Economy Leaders of 2008: Warren Buffett Edition

OK, so yesterday I posted this story on the "dopiest" business and economics leaders of the year. But apparently some people have other ideas. Looking at my comments, readers nominated President Bush, Franklin Raines, Chris Dodd, the American consumer, and, of course, me. And my pal the fabulous Fausta Wertz has her own nominee, Warren Buffett:

The reason I'm picking on Buffett is that even when Berkshire Hathaway paid (at least according to Forbes) 2.5% of all taxes collected in 2003 while making only 1.2% of total corporate income that year, and the top 25% of all taxpayers currently pay 86% of all taxes, last May he famously called for an increase on both business taxes and on even more progressive personal taxes.  While one may argue that "that was last May", Buffett has been calling for this for years now, and I haven't heard him change his mind now that we're into a recession.  The most he's said recently is that Congress won't be raising taxes for now, but eventually it'll have to and "this would "be no disaster," and that it "wouldn't change most peoples' lives." ... When Buffett talks, policymakers listen.  Until I hear him push for less government spending instead of higher taxes, I give him an honorary mention.