HIS self interest: the preservation of democracy. He sees that his wealth was as a result of living in a democracy that was paid for by taxes and that is important. He is just not selfish.

As for deeply held religious beliefs, for those believers that too trumps what we may consider the "greater good." And I am deeply pro-choice and will be til the day I die.

When I consider the issue, I consider things related directly to one's well being in society. Economic issues that have direct bearing on one's economic situation.

Unless you consider corporations to be part of everyone.

Warren Buffet voting for higher taxes isn't what is generally meant by "voting against ones own interests". Could be wrong, but in my mind the expression is about people who apparently vote against their own "stated" interests or goals. People who deride "big government" and then vote for people who enlarge it. People who complain about the loss of manufacturing jobs to NAFTA, then vote for the guys who passed it. And all of our favorites, the people who rally against "government run health care" all the while screaming "don't touch my medicare".

I agree that there are people with priorities that allow them to vote for people which apparently opppose SOME of their stated goals. It is a big reason for the "culture wars" to begin with. Reagan peeled off union democrats with "Guns, God, and Gays" and then trashed the unions. You see Santorum cranking up the culture wars because the economy isn't giving him anything to campaign upon. I do wonder what the population of the "stupid" people are that vote "against themselves" without actually understanding that they are doing it. Small percentages move elections, but I suspect that is all that it is, small percentages.

Sorry, but someone who does that is not playing with a full deck.

Same goes for anyone trying to defend or explain someone that stupid.

Don

It's the difference between short term and long term thinking.

Short-sighted short term thinking = I don't want to pay higher taxes to help those less fortunate than me.
Long term thinking = I benefit from living in a society where everybody is healthy, safe, and well educated.

Wealthy people can afford to pay higher taxes. It is quite stupid of them to vote against helping those less fortunate. It weakens the foundation on which they live.

You make some great points here. People have different priorites.