Now we know that Mitt Romney earns more than $20 million per year, out of which he "contributes" roughly equal amounts to Uncle Sam and to charity. Different folks react to that news in different ways, but I believe it is accurate to say that the percentage of the population that wouldn't trade their AGI for Mitt's is mighty small. Of course, it doesn't go unnoticed that the word "earns" in the opening sentence is misleading. Mitt doesn't have a job. He no longer runs a company or a State as he once did and as he is so fond of reminding us. He gets no paycheck for any services or labor rendered. No, virtually all of his income derives from capital gains - that is, from selling stocks that he acquired at an original cost that was a tiny fraction of their current worth. He acquired those equities early in his career as a private equity manager, or said otherwise, a "venture capitalist" according to his admirers, or a "vulture capitalist" according to his detractors. Either way, no one...(Read Full Post)