A group of 83 ultra-wealthy millionaires have signed an open letter demanding that they be taxed more. The group who have called themselves "Millionaires for Humanity" believe that the wealthy should be taxed much more heavily as a way of assisting the economy and wider society out of the CoVid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has led to the biggest rise in unemployment and the deepest economic contraction since the 1930s Great Depression.
Since the pandemic began, tens of millions have already lost their jobs and the incomes of many in society have decreased rapidly as businesses lay-off workers and economic activity grinds to a halt.
The letter states:
"As CoVid-19 strikes the world, millionaires like us have a critical role to play in healing our world. No, we are not the ones caring for the sick in intensive care wards. We are not driving the ambulances that will bring the ill to hospitals. We are not restocking grocery store shelves or delivering food door to door. But we do have money, lots of it. Money that is desperately needed now and will continue to be needed in the years ahead, as our world recovers from this crisis."
"We can ensure we adequately fund our health systems, schools, and security through a permanent tax increase on the wealthiest people on the planet, people like us. So please. Tax us. Tax us. Tax us. It is the right choice. It is the only choice. Immediately. Substantially. Permanently."
😱 does this mean I have to stop blaming the rich for everything?
— Darth Hadenoughious (@Chrispy29851) July 13, 2020
Nah ill just specify billionaires https://t.co/ubVqoYwD9c
While most of the group of 83 are based in the United States, it also includes signatures from those based in Germany, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, all countries which are facing similar difficulties to the US.
They include Jerry Greenfield, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry ice-cream, heirs to the Disney fortune, and the famous British movie director Richard Curtis. New Zealand's second richest man Sir Stephen Tindall, who has a personal fortune of around $400 million, is one of the wealthiest to put his name to the letter.
The group believes that the crisis in healthcare, public services and maintaining strict safety measures in society until a Covid-19 vaccine is found, cannot be covered by normal taxation or by charity. Therefore, the government must step in and demand that a significant portion of the wealth of the uber-rich is taxed for this purpose.
Some of the signatories had signed a previous letter similar to this one in 2017, which again had called on higher taxation for very wealthy individuals.
Let's hope all our respective governments listen!
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