A group of 83 millionaires have come forward pleading to pay more taxes in order to combat the worldwide COVID-19 crisis.
The people involved addressed the letter to “our fellow global citizens,” and refer to themselves as the “Millionaires for Humanity.”
They include Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield, Disney heirs Abigail and Tim Disney, and Richard Curtis, who is best known as the director of “Love, Actually”.
The majority have signed the letter from the United States, but it also includes signatures from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, and Germany.
According to them, challenges involving healthcare, education, and helping businesses in need – all of which have been affected by the crisis – cannot be dealt with solely through charity.
They admitted that they are not helping by doing medical work or selling groceries during the crisis but said “we do have money,”. “Lots of it.”
😱 does this mean I have to stop blaming the rich for everything?
Nah ill just specify billionaires https://t.co/ubVqoYwD9c— Darth Hadenoughious (@Chrispy29851) July 13, 2020
The group also called for the government to take action and raise the cash needed to deal with the issues that could last for decades to come.
“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,” they posted, urging governments to tax them “immediately. Substantially. Permanently.”
The group ended the letter, writing:
“So please. Tax us. Tax us. Tax us. It is the right choice. It is the only choice.”
Some of those who are taking part in the cause are known advocates for higher taxation, such as Greenfield, who has been a supporter of progressive initiatives and signed a similar document back in 2017, as per CNBC.
Last month, some of the signatories of the letter joined another cause, asking for future presidents to support a moderate wealth tax.
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