Paul Krugman, "The Twinkie Manifesto": Let's Start By Investigating New York Times Columnists

In his latest New York Times op-ed entitled "The Twinkie Manifesto" (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/opinion/krugman-the-twinkie-manifesto.html), Paul Krugman decries the life styles and low tax rates of America's wealthy. Krugman writes:

"Today, of course, the mansions, armies of servants and yachts are back, bigger than ever — and any hint of policies that might crimp plutocrats' style is met with cries of 'socialism.'"

Krugman concludes:

"America in the 1950s made the rich pay their fair share; it gave workers the power to bargain for decent wages and benefits; yet contrary to right-wing propaganda then and now, it prospered. And we can do that again."

I agree with Paul and suggest we begin an investigation of the bank accounts and lifestyles of his colleagues at the Times. First, why should Thomas Friedman be allowed to continuing living in his Maryland mansion, when so many people have had their mortgages foreclosed and have been forced out of their homes?

Next, let's demand to see Nicholas Kristof's tax returns for the past ten years. As you might know, his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, was a private wealth adviser at Goldman Sachs, and now serves as a senior managing director at Mid-Market Securities, a New York investment banking firm (see: http://www.mid-marketsecurities.com/team.html#Wudunn).

And for the sake of good order, perhaps Paul himself would care to divulge his income from lectures, books and opinion pieces and tell us what percentage of these sums has been given to charity. I'm sure he has given plenty, but in keeping with the demands of full disclosure, I think he will feel far more comfortable if he shares this information with us.