‘Tax us. It is the right choice’: Super-rich call for higher taxes on wealthy for Covid-19 recovery
"So please. Tax us. Tax us. Tax us. It is the right choice. It is the only choice," the letter read
In a letter to citizens all over the world, titled "Millionaires for Humanity," 83 of the world's richest people have called on governments to permanently increase taxes on them and other members of the wealthy elite to help pay for the economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.
"So please. Tax us. Tax us. Tax us. It is the right choice. It is the only choice," the letter said.
The group includes likes of Ben and Jerry's icecream co-founder Jerry Greenfield and Disney heir Abigail Disney.
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"Today, we, the undersigned millionaires, ask our governments to raise taxes on people like us. Immediately. Substantially. Permanently," the letter read.
The group stressed that the impact of Covid-19 crisis will last for decades and could push half a billion more people into poverty.
"Hundreds of millions of people will lose their jobs as businesses close, some permanently. Already, there are nearly a billion children out of school, many with no access to the resources they need to continue their learning. And of course the absence of hospital beds, protective masks, and ventilators is a painful, daily reminder of the inadequate investment made in public health systems across the world."
They said the problems caused and revealed by Covid-19 cannot be solved with charity - no matter how generous; and urged government leaders to take the responsibility for raising the funds needed and spending them fairly.
"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," the letter added.
The 83 super rich said they owe a huge debt to the people working on the frontlines of this global battle and most essential workers are grossly underpaid for the burden they carry.
They praised the health workers, saying: "At the vanguard of this fight are our health care workers, 70 percent of whom are women. They confront the deadly virus each day at work, while bearing the majority of responsibility for unpaid work at home."
"Risks these brave people willingly embrace every day in order to care for the rest of us requires us to establish a new, real commitment to each other and to what really matters."
Covid-19 pandemic has made the world's interconnectedness more clear, they said' adding the world must rebalance "before it is too late. There will not be another chance to get this right."
