Tax the Rich?

Just read this interesting post by Mark Cuban regarding some of Warren Buffett's recent comments in support of the Democratic candidates. I make no beef about the fact that I'm fascinated by Buffett and his view on the economy and philanthropy.

Cuban takes the view that he is willing to be taxed more (which I question, because why doesn't he voluntarily send the money to the government now) if he knows that spending goes down. As a fiscal conservative, I don't like big government or big taxes, and I believe in Reagonmics trickle-down supply side economics. On the flip side, I'm trying to figure out what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus with my money. If I really believe it's all God's money anyways, and i'm using it more and more in line with the values of the kingdom of God, doesn't that mean I should give more and more back to the poor and hurting to diminish the gap that exists between the rich and the poor? I think Buffett's view of giving it all away to help the poor and hurting lines up with Jesus ideal more than many conservatives.

I'm not saying that the government has all of the answers, or even many of them. I don't think that more money will solve more problems or deal with the systemic issues that exist in the world. I love hearing about communities where the local churches have put the local homeless shelters and government-subsidized centers out of business because of the way they've taken care of the widows, the poor and the orphans. I think there are new ways to help the poor, like some of the microeconomics concepts being deployed in third world countries that are a hand-up and not a hand-out.

I don't know. Just something I've been thinking about as I look at extending the kingdom of god into my finances. Anyone have any easy answers on this one? Maybe an out-of-context bible verse to help me make this a black and white issue?