Friend — here is a startling statistic : right now, 11 people PER MINUTE are dying from hunger. Due to conflict, the impacts of the pandemic, and the climate crisis, that’s an increase in the number of people living in famine-like conditions by SIXFOLD.
But not everyone is suffering. During the same time that so many people reached the brink of starvation, the ten richest people got a whopping $413 BILLION richer. That’s ELEVEN TIMES the amount needed to help keep 155 million people from starving. Even more galling, here in the United States, these same wealthy executives and investors have not contributed their fair share in taxes. It’s unfathomable — so many people are going hungry, while these individuals aren’t even contributing their fair share to our country. Some billionaires like Jeff Bezos even get a payout from the federal government. In 2007 and 2011, he didn’t pay any federal income tax, and in 2011, he even got $4,000 in child tax credit meant for low-income families. With millions of Americans confined to their homes and dependent on online shopping, Amazon’s sales and profits skyrocketed as a direct result of the pandemic this year — but Bezos is pocketing that money and taking joy rides to space — not paying his fair share of taxes.
President Biden’s American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan would go a long way to unrigging the rules that have allowed so many wealthy individuals to get away with paying so little in tax, like increasing the top personal income tax rate and ending a loophole through which the rich can pass on their fortunes to their heirs tax-free.
But we must do more to truly address the inequality crisis. Congress must increase the estate tax so America isn’t dominated by dynasties and institute a wealth tax to help reduce the racial wealth gap in this country.
Every day Americans have suffered and people around the world have been pushed to starvation while the wealthiest are literally flying rockets to space for a few minutes to say they can. This is a huge injustice, dear friend. Thank you for your support fighting for an equal future.
Gina Cummings Vice President of Advocacy, Alliances and Policy Oxfam America.
Oxfam America. Does not equal endorsement. |
Daily Kos, PO Box 70036, Oakland, CA, 94612. |
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