Taxing times

As procrastinators finish their Federal tax returns today under the shadow of historic budget deficits, debt and calls for soaking the rich, I think this proposal by the Instapundit deserves serious consideration:

SO OBAMA’S PEOPLE ARE TALKING TAX INCREASES AGAIN. Here’s my proposal: A 50% surtax on anything earned within five years after leaving the federal government, above whatever the federal salary was. Leave a $150K job at the White House, take a $1M job with Goldman, Sachs, pay a $425K surtax. Some House Republican should add this to a bill and watch the Dems react.

When first posted on the site, the suggestion--only mildly tongue-in-cheek--generated some discussion.  It was pointed out the reason ex-government employees command such high salaries is in large part because of the 'value' of connections they made as *ahem, cough, cough* public servants.  Thus it seems fitting there be a return on investment to the taxpayer. 

While this might raise some revenue, I think I'd prefer an outright ban on political appointees taking executive corporate positions--or vice-versa--for that same five-year period.  The revolving door between government and allegedly private industry, whether we're talking civilian or military officials, has created incestuous institutions that serve themselves, not the common good.  We don't have government... we have a ruling class that occasionally changes what attire it wears to the corner office.