|
|
A Year of Delightful Egalitarian Imagination
un article par Sam Pizzigati, Too Much Online
Economic inequality, we suspect, may have crept
into more conversations in 2013 than ever before.
But people aren't just talking about how unequal
we've become. They’re talking about antidotes to
the avarice all around us.
The year’s boldest move to limit inequality? That may have been the November bid in Switzerland to cap via referendum CEO compensation at 12 times worker wages.
click on photo to enlarge
We've assembled out of those discussions a list
that samples 2013's most promising and provocative
inequality-busting ideas, proposals, and campaigns.
Some of these notions seek to make an immediate,
politically practical impact. Others raise hopes
that many might deride as pure "pie in the sky." We
like practical. We also like pie. We think you
might, too. Read 'em and think!
Attention, share-the-wealth shoppers:
Consumers committed to sustainability can buy
forest-friendly paper. But what about consumers
who want to strike a blow against corporate pay
inequality? Toronto activists have an alternative
to offer: Wagemark, a new initiative that offers a
special insignia to enterprises that pay their top
execs no more than eight times what they pay
workers. Canada’s top 100 CEO's currently take
home 235 times Canadian average worker pay. Big-
time U.S. CEO's average 354 times worker pay.
Nursing hopes for a more equal future: Top
officials of the Massachusetts Nurses Association
have just submitted petitions — with over 100,000
signatures — calling for a new state law that
levies fines against any state hospital, profit or
nonprofit, that compensates its CEO over 100 times
the hospital’s lowest-paid worker wage. If state
lawmakers don’t act on the petition, the nurses
plan to collect the 11,000 additional signatures
necessary to place their proposal on next
November’s 2014 statewide ballot.
An Alpine assault on privilege: In
Switzerland this fall, young activists fell short
in their attempt to limit CEO compensation to no
more than 12 times worker wages. In a national
referendum, voters rejected the proposal — but
only after a massive corporate ad blitz. Just
weeks before the late November voting, the "1:12
Initiative for Fair Pay" was actually even in the
polls. Expect more on the 1:12 front in the year
ahead. Activists in Spain, France, and Germany are
already discussing similar campaigns.
Irish eyes smiling — on a wealth tax: In
the Great Recession’s wake, austerity budgets are
squeezing working families the world over. But
instead of slashing public spending on programs
the public needs, two Irish think tanks are
pointing out, governments could be taxing the
enormous wealth that has concentrated at society’s
economic summit. A mere 0.6 percent annual levy on
household wealth over 1 million euros, note the
TASC and Nevin Economic Research Institute think
tanks, could recast Ireland’s entire fiscal
landscape.
Ignore inequality? Fuhgetaboutit!: New York
City voters amazed the nation this November by
giving a landslide victory to a mayoral candidate
who made fighting gaps in income and wealth his
campaign battle cry. Among the proposals the newly
elected Bill de Blasio will be pushing when he
assumes office: an 11 percent hike in the city tax
on income over $500,000 to finance universal
access to prekindergarten and afterschool
programs. That proposal, with a few tweaks, could
begin remaking America’s most unequal city.
[Note: Thank you to Janet Hudgins, the CPNN
reporter for this article.]
(This article is continued in the discussionboard)
|
|
DISCUSSION
Il n'y pas encore de question liée à cet article.
* * * * *
Commentaire le plus récent:
(The following is continued from the main article listed above.)
Caucusing against concentrated wealth: If Congress ever gathered up the nerve to take a swipe at plutocracy at budget time, what might the resulting budget include? Probably everything in the “Back to Work” budget the lawmaker Progressive Caucus brought to the House floor earlier this year. In the plan: tax rates on high incomes topping off at 49 percent and applied to all income, even capital gains. Also in the budget proposal: a financial transactions tax on Wall Street speculation and a much higher estate tax rate.
Giving our wealthy options: How can we keep the wealth of the wealthy from distorting our politics? Dean Machin, a political philosopher at University College London, suggests we give the wealthy a choice. Under his “simple proposal,” the super rich could either pay a 100 percent tax on the wealth that makes them super rich or lose their political right to lobby, bankroll think tanks and political parties, or control media outlets. Those ultra wealthy who choose money over political clout, proposes Machin, would still get to vote.
More transparency: Only 17 members of Congress last year voluntarily released their tax returns. Emory law school’s Dorothy Brown wants the IRS to start releasing an annual summary of lawmaker tax returns. A report on this order, says Brown, might build public pressure for moves against tax loopholes. Back in 1934, Congress actually enacted a law that required all high-income earners to reveal their incomes and taxes paid. . ... continuation.
|
|
par domain d'action
par date
