I once lived off-the-grid in a 10 x 12ft log cabin in the middle of the Canadian wilderness. People find that hard to believe. They say I don’t look the type. My mother visited us, one of the last homesteads in BC, and once said, “but dear, you’re so poor.” I didn’t think I was poor until she labeled me that way…
We had no electricity. But there was fresh water, clean and running – down in the creek where we got bucketfuls each day. It was a hard way of life but for the most part, I was satisfied! Food, water, and shelter were all we needed for a while. But our hope and potential gave us a grand adventure.
Right now, 25% of the world population has no electricity. They don’t have safe drinking water free from contaminants. My husband, children and I were part of these stats. So I understand a little more about being poor that you might not know.
Is there an easy solution to erase poverty in the world? Common sense tells me, “Yes.”
And it should be a top priority in the political debates of our time. Did you know…
- Only 26 people on this planet hold more wealth than half of the world’s total population. [1] That shocked me when I read it. Because I don’t think those billionaires are any happier than all the mega-millionaires. And they are not any happier than those of us in the middle class, because money doesn’t equate to happiness.
- 20 ultra-rich individuals signed a letter this summer to the US government asking for a tax increase for the wealthy. Even Bill Gates, the second richest man in the world with over a hundred billion ($100,000,000,000), said he wasn’t against higher taxes for the wealthy. [2]
- Recently, Abhijit Banerjee, one of this year’s winners of the Nobel prize for economics stated that raising taxes for the wealthy instead of cutting them, would boost economic growth by giving money to social programs so the less wealthy people could have more money to spend.” (3) That’s common sense.
- Taxes for the ultra-rich used to be much more. Julian Castro, a presidential candidate, claims wealthy citizens in the US were taxed at 70% in 1950 for decades and only 23% in 2018. Check the rates for yourself. That’s the curve. Do you think it may have something to do with the gap in inequality??? (4) Those decades were the golden years.
Both sets of my grandparents were Danish. I’m proud of that heritage when I read about Denmark’s citizens happily paying 45% taxes on their income. If they make over $67,000 a year, they gladly pay 7% more. Denmark is rated as one of the happiest countries to live in. Why?
Because they have free health care. Because education, even at the university level, is free. Because the birth of a child means 52 weeks of parental leave. Because their welfare model provides upgrading and training free of charge. Because money doesn’t buy happiness.
The Danes are investing in their country and providing quality of life for everyone. (5) And other Scandinavian countries are similar.
Think about it! We could take this worldwide! Human beings can thrive if they have food, water, shelter…coupled with HOPE and POTENTIAL. My family did!
Taxing the super-wealthy could eradicate poverty and make this world a paradise for everyone. We need to take action and bring these facts to our politicians!
What do you think? Does this solution make sense to you?
♥ Always from my heart to yours…with love.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.Galatians 6:2
(1) The Oxfam Report/Aljazeera News, Jan 21, 2019
(2) ‘Just too much’: Meet the Uber-rich who want a Wealth Tax/Aljazeera News, Oct 22, 2019
(3) ‘Taxing the Rich to Fund Welfare is the Nobel Winner’s Growth Mantra,’ by Vrishti Beniwal, Bloomberg New, Oct 21, 2019
(4) Tweet by Julian Castro, Oct 13, 2019
(5) ‘Why Danes Happily Pay High Rates of Taxes’, by Meik Wiking, USNews, Jan. 20, 2016
CLICK TO TWEET “Tax the ultra-rich (they’re not going to miss it) and eradicate poverty. We can make this world a paradise for everyone.”
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#InequalityGap #Poverty #worldpoverty #taxtherich #happiness
Jane Catherine Rozek 
Wow, Jane, this was full of info that leads to change. That provokes thought and brings discussions with friends. Yes. Something is wrong with the present picture.
Thanks! Sharing.
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Thanks for your comment. It’s a hot topic in the today’s politics isn’t it? Love to hear from you!
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Tax the taxables 😊
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But who are they? I love to stir things up!
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No, Jane, taxing “the superrich” is a one time deal. After that they will go and invest elsewhere an I ask you, who will create the jobs? The poor? I came from a place that carried the consequences of that for more than a generation. Taxes should be fare. The top 10% already pay 90% of the taxes or close to that. IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE AT ALL! Too bad, many of us embrace this socialist ideas…Let us inform ourselves. Agree? Then we will be able to discus isues and not proclaim only one side of the spectrum.
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Thanks for commenting, Slavomir. The top 10% wealthy people DO NOT pay most of the taxes. Did you read the statistics I gave in the article? We do need to inform ourselves! And it’s not a socialist idea to carry the burden of others. It’s a Christ-like idea, sprinkled throughout the New Testament!
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Slavomir, I’d be interested to see the actual dollar amount that the 10% wealthy pay. I’ve heard countless stories even face-to-face by wealthy people who explain tax shelters and creative accounting that allows hidden income to go untaxed. Why would Bill Gates be in favour of Actual higher taxing? Because it makes sense to help others who cannot help themselves. You are right that a Socialist Communist regime has only rhetoric about “equalizing” people economically. It’s phony. They are not “interested in people”. The top members of their regime simply get rich off of those “beneath them”, and control them. Human selfishness.
I don’t believe we will straighten out the world, but we can do what’s right. Only Jesus, coming as the loving “dictator” with power and compassion combined, will straighten out the mess.
Thanks, Slavomir, for the insight into a country in distress, where you lived. Godlessness has horrible results. In North America we need two truly godly leaders, and we don’t have that (and won’t, with the “machine” that is in place, regardless of political party.) The Bible says that society in these days will get worse and worse. We do what we can. And we keep looking up! Blessings! Susan
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Well said, Susan at Debeesonblog! There are always different perspectives on an issue. But when we all look Upward for direction (and hope) we can agree on these things!
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