First time I’ve ever heard of rich people calling for a wealth tax. Fair play to em. Usually it’s Phil Collins whining like a female dog saying “If I have to pay another twenty quid in tax I’m emigrating to Iceland”
Julia Davies, a founding member of Patriotic Millionaires UK, a group of super-rich people calling for the introduction of a wealth tax, warned that global poverty and the climate emergency were going to get “so much worse” unless the wealthy did more to help poorer citizens. “Everyone can say it is somebody else’s responsibility,” Davies said. “But it is the wealthiest in society who are the people who can actually really do something about it. “Unfortunately, it is the wealthiest in society who are right now advocating to slow down the pace of tackling these huge issues. Maybe they think that they are going to be OK. I don’t honestly believe they are, and I definitely don’t think their kids and their grandkids are going to be OK.” She told the audience of about 500 members of the global super-rich and their advisers they had the opportunity to be “the heroes”. “You guys could be part of the turning point that protects your children, your grandchildren and your client’s children and grandchildren. Isn’t that worth something?”
But the point is that the people who are supposedly contributing little (and that is their choice) should not have to be forced to by government with a wealth tax - just because another group of rich people say they should.
Same with me, it’s my choice at the moment not to give money to charity, but I shouldn’t have to be forced to just because someone else tells the government I have to - it’s my money.
But quite obviously no-one is asking millionaires for anything. That’s why they have to form a group themselves and offer the money. Presumably they feel ashamed of how little they contribute to society when they are living in a country where pensioners are living in poverty and freezing every winter.
They’re not being forced to do anything - they WANT someone to take their money so they can do some good other than buy another yacht for themselves. And I’m sure for some people saving a pensioner from freezing is more satisfying than buying another Ferrari.
On a smaller scale I spend money to feed a couple of hedgehogs every night - no-ones forcing me to do it, I do it because I want to do it.
Of course the patriotic millionaires group have probably formed this group off their own back, and I actually commend them for that. Good for them for wanting to help the poorer classes.
BUT, it’s wrong for them to tell government to create a wealth tax to force OTHER rich people to give money. It should be a choice.
It is not the responsibility of rich people to solve the nations problems, it the government’s. And the government should not be using socialism tactics to force every rich person to pay higher taxes. It will obviously backfire on them and you will get another ‘France situation’ and they will just leave the country. That is neither good for the economy nor good for their employees.