You're rich...which evidently gives you license to be greedy and self-absorbed

I’m not sure what exactly, you know, I’m going to do yet. I’ll probably talk about it more in depth next week. I’m not going to jump the gun, but there are going to be some. There are going to be some drastic changes for me because I happen to be in that zone that has been targeted both federally and by the state and, you know, it doesn’t work for me right now. So I’m going to have to make some changes. […] I’ll probably go into it more next year or next week. But if you add up, if you add up all the federal and you look at the disability and the unemployment and the Social Security and the state, my tax rate’s 62, 63 percent. So I’ve got to make some decisions on what I’m going to do.

I understand that no one really wants to pay taxes. None of us want to pay a dime more than we have to. That said, most Americans recognize and accept that their taxes are the price they pay for admission to the American dream. Their taxes help make this country what it is by paying for infrastructure, education, health care, social programs, and many other things that make America what it is.

Unfortunately, there are those, many of whom seem to be wealthy, who view taxes as the government taking their money from them. Never mind that they live in a country that’s helped to make their financial success possible by creating an atmosphere that allows them to blossom. Never mind that America, through the rule of law, provides an environment conducive to business and investment in a way that exists in few other countries.

I admire Phil Mickelson’s skill and talent as a golfer. Unfortunately, his willingness to accept his responsibility to pay his fair share leaves something to be desired. As one who believes strongly in the social contract, I believe those to whom much is given should accept that much is expected of them. Mickelson is fortunate to live in a country that affords him the ability to do what he loves and enjoy the rewards stemming from his hard work. That makes it incumbent upon him to recognize that he has a responsibility to do his fair share to ensure that others continue to enjoy the same opportunities he’s taken advantage of. Making “drastic changes” in an effort to dodge taxes is both selfish and self-absorbed, and it betrays a fundamental lack of understanding of his responsibilities as an American citizen.

But even if he does pay a higher tax rate, he doesn’t have it all that bad. The vast majority of his income came from sponsorships, meaning companies paid him $43 million to wear their logos, play golf with their equipment, and film commercials. He made another $4.8 million playing in 22 golf tournaments, bringing his career total to more than $66 million and his net worth north of $150 million. He is the world’s seventh highest-paid athlete.

Even if he pays a higher tax rate, Mickelson is in no danger of having to worry where his next Big Mac is coming from. That he’s considering actions that will result in him paying less than his fair is frankly reprehensible. While I understand the desire to keep one’s tax burden as low as possible, there comes a point where efforts in that direction reveal one to be selfish and wholly self-absorbed. Phil Mickelson has a responsibility to pay his fair share in order that the country that makes his success possible is able to meet its obligations to the rest of America.

Oh…one other thing: If Mickelson’s paying an income tax of 62-63%, he really needs to find better financial advisors.