To the editor: Full disclosure: I’m neither a billionaire nor a Republican.
Sen. Bernie Sanders’ op-ed concerning the proposed California billionaire tax is at finest naïve (“Yes, billionaires must pay a wealth tax to save healthcare and democracy,” Could 4). Accusing billionaires of extortion as a result of they’ve threatened to maneuver their companies out of California if the tax passes is absurd; it’s simply good enterprise sense. Even Gov. Gavin Newsom thinks the tax is a nasty concept.
The op-ed additionally fails to handle one other side of elementary equity. If somebody reached into your pocket and pulled out a few of your money, wouldn’t you are feeling wronged? Effectively, that’s doubtless how the billionaires really feel. Billionaires must fill out tax returns like the remainder of us. Precisely how are they avoiding paying taxes?
If this tax passes, what stops the socialists behind this from passing one other tax each two years? Or one other that drops the edge to $100 million? And if that succeeds, simply hold dropping the edge till you’re now taxing almost everybody.
My father was a really sensible man. Once I was very younger, he instructed me that the Democratic Occasion is all about bringing everybody all the way down to the identical stage. It tries to punish particular person initiative with extreme taxation. And this can be a basic instance of that.
Chopping again on funding for healthcare isn’t proper, however neither is that this tax. Two wrongs don’t make a proper.
Jim Rueff, Fountain Valley
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To the editor: Sen. Sanders’ illuminating op-ed convinces me to vote for California’s billionaire tax. Sanders asks, “Why are the opponents of this initiative unwilling to truthfully debate this situation?” They’ll’t debate as a result of they will’t enable the reality to return out: Many of the super-rich are completely prepared to permit the lots to descend right into a everlasting underclass — poverty-stricken, powerless, weak and due to this fact on the mercy of their overlords. Possibly that’s even what they need: They, the 938 billionaires, could be extra highly effective than the remainder of the American inhabitants, and due to this fact capable of do no matter they want.
Will the voters enable their science-fiction fantasy to grow to be a sickening actuality?
Margo Kasdan, Seal Seaside
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To the editor: All anyone desires is security and safety in life. With out that, we see resentment, violence and desperation. If I had been a billionaire, I’d need to do what I might to profit humanity and my nation as an entire.
Our interconnectedness can’t be ignored. Irrespective of how excessive you construct your fences, you’re nonetheless a part of the ecosystem. A small quantity of pocket change from the ultra-rich could make a profound change for the strange Joe simply attempting to get by.
Celeste Demetor, Lake Arrowhead
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To the editor: The wealthy and particularly billionaires are such straightforward targets for extra tax income. We demonize the grasping and conceited billionaire class as a result of they by no means pay their “fair proportion” and contribute considerably to the huge wealth inequality downside. Simply think about all of the great new packages that may be created with the billions that wealth taxes will generate. Free common little one care, raises for academics, dental and imaginative and prescient take care of seniors, and so on.
However then, what occurs when the billionaires flee the state? And absolutely they may, except they’re fools or philanthropists. All that new state spending will continue to grow because the wealth tax receipts disappear. After all, none of those new packages might be reduce, so the price range deficit will explode.
To remain afloat, new taxes have to be imposed on everybody. If it passes, the billionaire tax will show to be not such a fantastic concept on reflection.
Glynn Morris, Savannah, Ga.
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To the editor: Why cease with the tax on billionaires? Let’s go after the entire cash spent (and wasted) on political campaigns. Let’s put a cap on all salaries and redistribute to the much less lucky. Let’s have a central group resolve the place charitable contributions ought to go. As Karl Marx said so succinctly, “From every in line with his potential, to every in line with his want.”
In the future quickly, the employees could have had sufficient (e.g., protesters going after Jeff Bezos on the Met Gala) and can go on strike. Then what?
Linda Salzman, Rancho Palos Verdes
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To the editor: Right here’s an concept: Let’s make the billionaire tax voluntary. I can assume of some socially acutely aware institution figures and up-and-comers who would possibly reply.
Let’s couple it with an annual awards ceremony celebrating California’s prime taxpayers (and embrace a nod of denunciation to our state tax defectors).
Giving a bit of of rather a lot can acquire rather a lot within the public’s estimation.
Sheran James, Laguna Seaside
