Bill Gates wants ultra-wealthy individuals to pay more tax — and now a growing chorus of billionaires agree.
In his annual “Ask Me Anything” forum on Reddit last year, the Microsoft cofounder said he was “surprised” that taxes for the rich haven’t been increased more.
Gates doubled down on his calls to tax the rich in a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. He said the wealthiest nations should donate more money to developing countries to help redress inequality.
“Those who have the most — whether it’s countries, companies, or individuals — should be pushed to be more generous,” he said.
It seems others agree, as more than 250 ultra-wealthy people signed an open letter calling for global leaders to impose a wealth tax.
How about backing up that letter with some lobbyists?
Ads. We need these folks taking out issues ads, raising the profile of taxing the ultra-rich.
Hi, I’m Bill Gates, and I am spending more on this ad campaign than I paid in taxes.
Paid for by Bill Gates
As long as it is only a letter other billionaires don’t care. They know it’s lip service.
You know, you can voluntarily pay more taxes. I don’t think the irs would stop you paying more if you wanted to
if you overpay the IRS they will refund you
Buy a few Republicans and let’s make it happen, Billy Boy.
People are right to point out that he should not simply cut a check to the government, instead he should lobby for higher wealth taxes like he lobbies for patents or voucher schools. Anything less is just free PR.
I think people often lob unfair criticism at Gates, but this is more than fair.
Gates has done enough evil during his lifetime to earn all the shit talk.
K
“I’m surprised the thing me and my ilk have been actively working against hasn’t magically happened despite our massive efforts to the opposite effect.”
Bet you Bill thinks these kinds of publicity stunts will exclude him from being eaten, when we go to eat the rich.
Just curious, how has he worked against it?
Irrelevant to this tax thing but Bill Gates still helping known patent trolls obtain more patents
Bill Gates is widely known for massive hypocrisy. And funneling his “Charity” money into vaccine companies he owns himself. And buying up an insane amount of farm land during Covid.
If Bill Gates says something you can bet that he’s doing the exact opposite. There’s a reason that this “charity man” somehow keeps getting richer.
By being part of the billionaire owner class for decades and saying nothing about it until there’s very real threats of working class solidarity.
I’ve come to the right place if bill gates isn’t cheered on by leftwingers… Dude has such a sketchy past especially regarding intellectual property and market manipulation.
But “at least he doesn’t support trump”
He probably is through some back-ass-channel. These kinds of assholes always play all colors, all cards and have backup plans. He still wants to cling to his little riches even if the political winds change again. Gotta be able to show receipts when that happens.
I’ll never support a single Billionaire ever for any reason whatsoever. They’re leeches and parasites to society, our species and planet.
Put up or shut up, Bill. And don’t get me started on all the land you own
Says the guy who funnels his entire wealth through a foundation to avoid paying any taxes. Just like he told Epstein to do. Love you Bill
¯_(ツ)_/¯ At least bill is probably the most generous billionaire that has existed so far
If there was ever a generous billionaire, they’d no longer be a billionaire.
But you see, he deserves it for stealing all that work and ideas from other people
Dear Bill,
the german government has a banking account where you can send them money, no questions asked. Feel free to send over your fair share of taxes you are avoiding by routing the Microsoft profits from Germany via Luxembourg and other tax havens.
My nine year old: “My nails are sharp and they get stuck to my clothes”
Me: “You should cut them. Do you need any help?”
9 y.o.: “Please cut them even if I start crying”Sometimes people need their nails cut for them and you should be happy to oblige even if they start crying. Though I think Bill’s waning moment bribes are more convincing than offering to do chores.
I’m not very smart but I do sense a catch here. If my ‘suspicion’ (if you can call it that) is right, could someone kindly explain it to me?
The catch is that if they pay taxes and life gets better for other people we agree to not bring out the torches, pitchforks, and guillotines or tar, feathers, and such
The torches, pitchforks, guillotine, tar, and feathers aren’t going to reach a billionaire. They’re going to be used on whoever is around.
You aren’t getting within five miles of a billionaire. They don’t play D&D and eat at McDonald’s, bro. Sorry.
You are more likely to find yourself unfortunately headless than even getting the chance to hurt the feelings of a billionaire let alone their actual person.
If it ever comes to it, rioters are probably going to go after celebrities (possibly including influencers). There seems to be an increasing trend of people being turned off by inauthentic charm and conspicuous consumption, these days. Also, more and more of them seem to have been born into the life (like a child of a celebrity) rather than being elevated from working class life.
Anonymity is the new celebrity.
The torches, pitchforks, guillotine, tar, and feathers aren’t going to reach a billionaire. They’re going to be used on whoever is around.
The point, of course, is that the cost of being a billionaire is that you can’t go out in public- if the public is mad enough about it
Billionaires don’t really go out in public even when the public isn’t mad about it. This is what I’m saying: people think they’re taking something from them that they don’t use and didn’t want in the first place.
“That’s right! The righteous anger of the public now makes you appearing in public dangerous! Try going to MY McDonald’s, Mr. Man!”
It’s just impotent hand waving and revenge fantasizing. Fine and well, I suppose. Oh no, what ever shall they do and all that. 🤣
Financially speaking, a millionaire is far, far, far closer to a homeless drug addict than a billionaire.
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They can flap their lips all they want, I won’t believe them til they lobby for it and it gets changed.
k
Imagine if a wealthy individual, who believes that the wealthy should be taxed more, actually used their wealth to take out TV commercials in all states/provinces advocating for the increase in taxes for the wealthy, actually trying to sway the political mindset in a big way with the power they have via their wealth.
