56 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 13 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 4/15/13

We Are Not Broke: Ellison Reintroduces The Robin Hood Tax

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   1 comment
Message Joanne Boyer
Become a Fan
  (12 fans)
As a follow-up to our eNewsletter theme last week that the United States is NOT broke, we invite you to take a closer look at The Robin Hood Tax and its reintroduction on Wednesday by Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-MN). There are multitudes of ways that we could help lessen the massive inequality that exists in our country today. I am constantly told that greed and the insatiable desire for more, more, more has been with us since the beginning of time (at least the last 8,000 years). So too then have the ideas to counter that way of thinking.

The Robin Hood Tax
The Robin Hood Tax
(Image by The Robin Hood Tax)
  Details   DMCA

Today, we have the largest income equality that has existed in my adult lifetime. That was clearly stated recently by renowned economist David Kay Johnston who reported the following:

In 2011 the average Adjusted Gross Income of the vast majority fell to $30,437 per taxpayer, its lowest level since 1966 when measured in 2011 dollars. The vast majority averaged a mere $59 more in 2011 than in 1966. For the top 10 percent, by the same measures, average income rose by $116,071 to $254,864, an increase of 84 percent over 1966.

So what do we do about that? First we work like crazy to change the conversation with friends and families that we, as a country, are broke. We are not broke. We chose to allow those with power to take away our collective and individual rights. The second thing: push our legislators to support Ellison's Inclusive Prosperity Act (The Robin Hood Tax) this Wednesday.

What is the Robin Hood Tax? I invite you to peruse the following web sites to find out more.  

The Robin Hood Tax

Progressive Democrats of America

Oxfam International

Bill Moyers

In its simplest form, the Robin Hood Tax is a tax on the financial sector that has the power to raise hundreds of billions every year to provide funding for jobs to kick-start the economy and get America back on its feet. It could help save the social safety net in the US and around the world.  

How simple is that? So simple that it will take massive work and efforts to alert people to the fact that common sense can once again overtake greed and selfishness. If I'm told I have to recognize that greed has always been part of the human condition, then it is up to us to remind people that there has always been a pushback in the course of human history against greed. Robin Hood had his day in Sherwood Forest. Today, it's up to us to bring back the spirit of Robin Hood and support the efforts of those who continue to rally around the cry:   We are Not Broke.

What will you do this week to push back against the prevailing and incorrect assumption that this country is broke and we have to punish the elderly, the poor and the marginalized? One fairly painless action item would be to call your congressional rep and ask them to support Keith Ellison's Robin Hood Tax bill.

Rate It | View Ratings

Joanne Boyer Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Joanne Boyer is founder and editor of Wisdom Voices Press and www.WisdomVoices.com. Her first book is "Wisdom of Progressive Voices." Joanne has worked in professional communications for more than 30 years. Her career includes being the first (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

On, Wisconsin: The Legacy of "Fighting Bob" LaFollette

Can Occupy Wall Street Push Us To Single Payer?

Doing The Work For The Real Health Care Victory: Single Payer

The Common Good, The Planet, and Humankind

The Breadth and Depth of Voter Suppression Should Scare Us All

The Fraud of 'Voter Fraud'

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend