Bill Gates thinks the super-wealthy should pay more tax – and plenty of rich people agree ( www.businessinsider.com )

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.

novibe ,

They always say shit like this then put all their money in charities or shell corporations overseas… this is just marketing. He could easily pay more taxes right now if he wanted to.

massive_bereavement ,
@massive_bereavement@kbin.social avatar

At this point I think they're just taunting us.

kool_newt ,

Pretty sure I've seen this exact story about every 5 years for the last 20 years. It looks to me at this point like wealth apologism.

zbyte64 , (edited )
@zbyte64@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

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.

Rayspekt ,

I wonder if those billionaires that agree do so because they feel that the time are changing and people are done with getting ripped off.

Buelldozer ,
@Buelldozer@lemmy.today avatar

Performative, these people could write checks directly to their countries tax collection agency any time they wanted. Old Bill there could send $500,000 a day for a hundred years and not miss it.

Yes I did the math, that would work out to only 18 Billion of his 121 Billion fortune!

Aatube ,

See PugJesus’s reply below, plus mandating it would make it required

gencha ,

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

Zehzin ,
@Zehzin@lemmy.world avatar

But you see, he deserves it for stealing all that work and ideas from other people

Zetta ,

I mean, isn't that the definition of owning a company? You profit off of the work your employees do

Zehzin ,
@Zehzin@lemmy.world avatar

Even when we pretend that's ok, and pretend that his policy of "embrace, extend, exterminate" is also fine, he personally stole other people's work. He straight up admited stealing from Xerox (along with Steve Jobs), and stole MS-DOS from Gary Kildall.

Zetta ,

¯_(ツ)_/¯ At least bill is probably the most generous billionaire that has existed so far

riodoro1 ,

This is what slaves actually believe

Stumblinbear ,
@Stumblinbear@pawb.social avatar

It's all relative. The "most generous so far" can still be a really low bar.

Zehzin ,
@Zehzin@lemmy.world avatar

If there was ever a generous billionaire, they'd no longer be a billionaire.

electric_nan ,

Too late, compost these fuckers.

TIMMAY ,

Bill Gates should either shut his stupid fucking mouth or put his insanely exorbitant amount of money where that stupid fucking mouth is. Oh, he is a philanthropist and supports many causes and charities? No, he is an ultra wealthy individual who hordes his insane amount of wealth and has so much of it that he can casually drop seven plus figures in to any cause he wants, collect accolades from the public for it, and make that money back by the end of the fucking hour. Fuck bill gates

CaptainSpaceman ,

Not to mention he got a fake divorce from his wife for monetary purposes

Or that he wasnt even a struggling inventor like the stories have us believe, his mom was on the board for IBM ffs

SuiXi3D ,
@SuiXi3D@kbin.social avatar

Literally nothing is stopping any of them from cutting a massive check to the government. This is lip service to stop people from hating on the billionaire class.

CaptainSpaceman ,

They buy politicians left and right, but THIS issue is completely out of their hands.

Hang on, my eyes rolled so far back I need to cough them up now

Signtist ,
@Signtist@lemm.ee avatar

I mean, it's not like they're going to bribe the government into forcing them to pay greater taxes.

CaptainSpaceman ,

Why not? Gates sounds like he wants to

Xatolos ,
@Xatolos@reddthat.com avatar

250 individuals vs how many other ultra-wealthy individuals and big businesses behind them though? It's a pack of Goliath vs a horde of Goliath, and unfortunately a horde will out do a pack.

CaptainSpaceman ,

They signed a letter?!?!?!?

Damn, if only there was literally anything more they could do 😥

monkeyslikebananas2 ,

Except the issue is systemic. You have a percentage of mega wealthy who simply don’t even pay their share. A few billionaires sending a large check to the government doesn’t fix anything. They could but until we change the way we handle taxes for the wealthy, we have a systemic problem we need to fix.

Speaking out that all the rich should pay more helps (maybe) make the case that those making hella bank should pay more.

Your statement is a bit of a straw man which doesn’t actually address the fact that the mega rich aren’t paying their fair share.

SuiXi3D ,
@SuiXi3D@kbin.social avatar

Except I wholeheartedly agree with you. There is a huge issue here, but at the same time if these billionaires truly believe that they should be paying more, they should just… do it. There is literally nothing stopping them. They should be forced to, yes, and that’s what they’re saying. But they should be putting their money where their mouths are in the meantime.

Blackmist ,

If you think billionaires paying more taxes to governments will mean better lives for the poor then oh boy do I have a bridge to sell you.

SuiXi3D ,
@SuiXi3D@kbin.social avatar

No, obviously it takes those in government to have good intentions as well.

TORFdot0 ,

It means better lives for those poor executives of military contractors. Think of Lockheed-Martin's children!

TORFdot0 ,

If you are cutting massive checks for the social good, private charitable organizations are typically better stewards of the money than the government. Unless you want the military to have more fighter jets, I suppose

AnAngryAlpaca ,

What would stop them from just funding housing, healthcare or education by themselves, if they want to contribute to society?

NoneOfUrBusiness ,

TBF Bill Gates does.

Tubics ,

It's still a massive difference to taxes. Society should decide where the money goes, not the wealthy individuals themselves

knatschus ,

That would put them behind those who wouldn't do it, if every rich person is forced to pay more taxes noone loses power

chemicalwonka ,
@chemicalwonka@discuss.tchncs.de avatar

They shouldn't pay less taxes if they don't exist in the first place

Strider ,

Ah yes they'll be starting anytime now, soon.. Just wait...

JoBo ,

"should be pushed to be more generous"

Generosity my arse. Should be forced to pay their way. The rest of us cannot afford them.

madcaesar ,

Take that money and talk and fund progressive politicians so we'll have systematic change.

This bullshit talk about paying more taxes is worthless.

apfelwoiSchoppen ,
@apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world avatar

Says the guy that fought tooth and nail for MRNA vaccination patents to remain private. Yeah pay taxes but maybe don't make the money to begin with.

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