NY Millionaires: "Raise our taxes!"
By Thom Hartmann A...
Millionaires in New York want to pay higher taxes.
In fact, 51 of those wealthy individuals felt so strongly about paying their fair share, they have signed on to a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo asking him to make their temporary high tax rates permanent.
That group of millionaires includes names like Steven C. Rockefeller and Abigail Disney, and they want to help their state invest in things like infrastructure and programs that help those in poverty.
Their letter was sent to New York lawmakers and the Governor on Monday, and it was published in full by major outlets like the Washington Post.
These patriotic millionaires wrote, “In the spirit of shared sacrifice, we, the undersigned, call for a balanced solution that includes maintaining, expanding, and making permanent the top marginal income tax rates for upper-income New Yorkers like us who can afford to pay more.”
They explained that they understand that those who have benefited the most from the Empire State have a responsibility to help care for the society that provided their success.
In addition to calling for a temporary “Millionaire's Tax” to be made permanent, the letter's authors also announced their support for the “1% Plan for New York Tax Fairness.” That's the Fiscal Policy Institute's proposal, which would raise state taxes on New York's highest earners from 7.65 to 9.99 percent.
They wrote, “We can well afford to pay our current taxes, and we can afford to pay even more. Our state needs to invest this revenue in our struggling schools, in anti-poverty measures, and in infrastructure improvements.”
They added, “Our state's long-term economic prosperity depends on strong investments in our people and our communities.”
That is what being patriotic looks like. Hopefully New York lawmakers listen to these millionaires and make sure that their state has the revenue to invest in programs and infrastructure that will help everyone succeed in the future.
Comments
#2
Kilosqrd I suppose your right in one sense, we can pay as much as we want... but I think the point is to REQUIRE the 1% to pay higher taxes...after all, how many will volunteer to pay higher taxes?
#3
Sad how the Billionaires keep the millionaires from having to pay their fair share.
BTW Thom, I used to train dogs for a living...& am pet intuitive.. Your dog needs less time alone if poss. and a lot more exercise...preferably in a fenced area off leash & plenty of chew toys. Hurding dogs are genetically wired to run, quite leterally, all day. One thing you can try is putting him in his crate w/ a treat for 10-20 min. intervals while one or both of you are at home durring the day so he stops associating the crate soley with being alone. Avoid an “exit routine”. After crating him, make as little “fuss” as possible. For example if you and Louise both have to leave, you leave first taking her coat and purse. (He associates her getting her stuff together with abandonment) Then she leaves for a minute or 2, goes back in for a minute or 2, then leaves again…making no eye or voice contact with Blue. When Louise is leaving by herself, she can put her coat & purse out of site near the door...go in & out a time or 2 etc. If you can, put his crate out of site of the door. This is time consuming…but can help. Many people who do not have time for a dog make the mistake of getting one. While Louse may have the time, I know you do not. Getting a dog is like having a child. Especially for puppies, the first month or so requires near constant companionship while training in order to bond and avoid the development of separation anxiety. Get a bed and a few toys for the studio and bring him with you to work whenever possible. Hurding dog, eh?…your houseboat must be pretty big! I could “see” him bouncing off the walls and chewing up everything in site. I would definitely work through the anxiety and insecurity before introducing any competition. He wants you &/or Louise to be the “Alpha Dogs” and as such, it is your company and approval he craves. A puppy, in my humble and possibly wrong opinion, would only make things worse…and if you are unable to spend a lot of time with the new puppy, than the same problem may develop. Males are much more likely to mind being alone than females…usually, but not always..depending on the breed. If you don’t have a lot of time to spend with a dog but really want one, I suggest adopting a greyhound. The females, in particular are docile and calm by nature. They call greyhounds the “feline canines” & the “canine couch potatoes” ’cause they sleep a lot and seldom bark.
Anything goes Friday: GREAT multi-part series interviewing Thomas Drake…fair warning, after you watch it, you will understand why Hillary is campaigning on ‘No We Can’t!’ If you have a Roku, you can watch it on the free channel, “the Real News” .
#4
Great!
#5
This is truly great news. Too bad the corporate media isn't covering it.
#6
Thom had a Tea Party guest on last week, and many issues were brought up including federal business tax. The foxmerized Teapublican mentioned that companies relocate overseas because of high taxation here in the United States. Thom pointed out the reality of effective tax rates, and that in many cases the largest corporations pay no tax at all, they actually receive billions in corp welfare. Of course there was no reply from the teabagger regarding this inconvenient truth.
I really wish Thom would demand a reply in these instances.....the corspe media lets these guys off the hook all the time. In my opinion demanding an explanation of a bald faced lie in the face of obvious truth is a great way to fight propaganda. Let him hang himself in front of a global broadcast audience.
#7
Sandlewould, Reply to #2
The point of Thom's blog was that the NY millionaires were wanting to pay more taxes.
So what you are saying is that the miilionaires want to pay more taxes but they won't until they are required to pay more taxes. Sorry, that doesn't equate. If the millionaires want their taxes raised, why not be pro-active and just pay more?
By the way, there has been a program in NY that is trying to bring new businesses into NY by offering no taxes for 10 years. Start-Up New York I believe it's called.
Somehow Thom's article and reality are on different pages.
#8
This also dovetails with a favorite expression often used by liberal politicians. It goes something like this:
All we are asking is the (top 1%), (wealthiest Americans), (rich and well off) pay a little more in taxes. How many times have we heard that?
Bulls**t. The IRS or the Federal Government doesn't ask any such thing. They DEMAND under the threat of a prison term if you don't comply. It is a big reason why liberals have a credibilty problem.
#9
Speaking of taxes in New York .....A new bill has been introduced to help seniors pay their property tax. The legislation would leave it up to local governments to pass a law exempting seniors on fixed incomes from paying school property tax. Maybe the increased revenue being offered by NY millionaires could offset the loss to local school districts????
Property tax is an extremely regressive form of taxation, and needs to be converted to an income based/ability to pay tax....it's long overdue. Everyone pays property tax, including low income renters who are unaware this expense has already been built into their rent.
The reason it hasn't already been converted to an income tax is obvious....how dare we tax the rich, when there is trickle down??? Concentration of wealth has still not totally reduced us to a Feudal third world status,....there's still wealth left to redistribute to the top, this via flat wages, regressive taxation, union busting, deregulation of banks...got to make it easy for the Bankster/Fascists to steal working class 401Ks/IRAs.....etc etc.
Afterall, what's wrong with a citizen in New York working their butt off for 50 years, and then getting taxed off their property in old age? That's "Merica!"
#10
I don't buy this story either. This is BS for sure.
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What a crock of bs. There are so many holes in this blog that it is impossible not to see though it.
You do not need the government's permission to pay higher taxes.