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While the private jets have mostly left the airport outside of Davos, Switzerland following the conclusion of this year's World Economic Forum, a little noticed exchange that took place during the annual gathering has picked up steam in recent days showing what it looks like when some of the world's richest people are confronted by someone willing to call literal "bullshit" on the we-can-save-the-world-with-charity mantra that dominates among the global elite.
"I mean we can talk for a very long time about all these stupid philanthropy schemes. We can invite Bono once more. But, come on, we've got to be talking about taxes. That's it. Taxes, taxes, taxes. All the rest is bullshit in my opinion."
--historian Rutger BregmanIf the world's richest and most powerful are worried about a so-called popular "backlash" in response to the global economic system they defend--and largely control--Rutger Berman, a Dutch historian and author of the book Utopia for Realists, during a panel last week titled "The Cost of Inequality," said the pathway is not complicated. "The answer," he said, "is very simple: Just stop talking about philanthropy, and start talking about taxes."
"I mean we can talk for a very long time about all these stupid philanthropy schemes," Bregman added. "We can invite [U2 frontman] Bono once more. But, come on, we've got to be talking about taxes. That's it. Taxes, taxes, taxes. All the rest is bullshit in my opinion."
Watch the following clip put out by Now This:
\u201c\u2018It feels like I\u2019m at a firefighters conference and no one\u2019s allowed to speak about water.\u2019 \u2014\u00a0This historian wasn\u2019t afraid to confront the billionaires at Davos about their greed\u201d— NowThis (@NowThis) 1548721980
Also on the Davos panel with Bregman was Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International. Just last week, as the WEF summit was just opening, Oxfam released a report on global inequality showing that just 26 billionaires now own as much wealth as the world's 3.8 poorest billion people.
"We have a tax system that leaks so much, that allows $170 billion of money every year to be taken to tax havens and to be denied the developing countries that need that money most," said Byanyima during the panel. "So we have to look at the business model, and we have to look at the role of governments to tax and plow back money into people's lives."
As the video clip began to go viral in the wake of the Davos' gathering, the media team for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)--who has continued to put global inequality and the idea of a "rigged" economy at the heart of his political message--snagged the central claims of Bregman's remarks and on Tuesday put out this version:
\u201cWe have a rigged tax code that has essentially legalized tax-dodging for large corporations and the world's wealthiest individuals. It is time to end these egregious loopholes and make the wealthy pay their fair share.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1548793117
"We have a rigged tax code that has essentially legalized tax-dodging for large corporations and the world's wealthiest individuals," said Sanders. "It is time to end these egregious loopholes and make the wealthy pay their fair share."
Watch the full "Cost of Inequality" panel discussion:
Trump and Musk are on an unconstitutional rampage, aiming for virtually every corner of the federal government. These two right-wing billionaires are targeting nurses, scientists, teachers, daycare providers, judges, veterans, air traffic controllers, and nuclear safety inspectors. No one is safe. The food stamps program, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are next. It’s an unprecedented disaster and a five-alarm fire, but there will be a reckoning. The people did not vote for this. The American people do not want this dystopian hellscape that hides behind claims of “efficiency.” Still, in reality, it is all a giveaway to corporate interests and the libertarian dreams of far-right oligarchs like Musk. Common Dreams is playing a vital role by reporting day and night on this orgy of corruption and greed, as well as what everyday people can do to organize and fight back. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover issues the corporate media never will, but we can only continue with our readers’ support. |
While the private jets have mostly left the airport outside of Davos, Switzerland following the conclusion of this year's World Economic Forum, a little noticed exchange that took place during the annual gathering has picked up steam in recent days showing what it looks like when some of the world's richest people are confronted by someone willing to call literal "bullshit" on the we-can-save-the-world-with-charity mantra that dominates among the global elite.
"I mean we can talk for a very long time about all these stupid philanthropy schemes. We can invite Bono once more. But, come on, we've got to be talking about taxes. That's it. Taxes, taxes, taxes. All the rest is bullshit in my opinion."
--historian Rutger BregmanIf the world's richest and most powerful are worried about a so-called popular "backlash" in response to the global economic system they defend--and largely control--Rutger Berman, a Dutch historian and author of the book Utopia for Realists, during a panel last week titled "The Cost of Inequality," said the pathway is not complicated. "The answer," he said, "is very simple: Just stop talking about philanthropy, and start talking about taxes."
"I mean we can talk for a very long time about all these stupid philanthropy schemes," Bregman added. "We can invite [U2 frontman] Bono once more. But, come on, we've got to be talking about taxes. That's it. Taxes, taxes, taxes. All the rest is bullshit in my opinion."
Watch the following clip put out by Now This:
\u201c\u2018It feels like I\u2019m at a firefighters conference and no one\u2019s allowed to speak about water.\u2019 \u2014\u00a0This historian wasn\u2019t afraid to confront the billionaires at Davos about their greed\u201d— NowThis (@NowThis) 1548721980
Also on the Davos panel with Bregman was Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International. Just last week, as the WEF summit was just opening, Oxfam released a report on global inequality showing that just 26 billionaires now own as much wealth as the world's 3.8 poorest billion people.
"We have a tax system that leaks so much, that allows $170 billion of money every year to be taken to tax havens and to be denied the developing countries that need that money most," said Byanyima during the panel. "So we have to look at the business model, and we have to look at the role of governments to tax and plow back money into people's lives."
As the video clip began to go viral in the wake of the Davos' gathering, the media team for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)--who has continued to put global inequality and the idea of a "rigged" economy at the heart of his political message--snagged the central claims of Bregman's remarks and on Tuesday put out this version:
\u201cWe have a rigged tax code that has essentially legalized tax-dodging for large corporations and the world's wealthiest individuals. It is time to end these egregious loopholes and make the wealthy pay their fair share.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1548793117
"We have a rigged tax code that has essentially legalized tax-dodging for large corporations and the world's wealthiest individuals," said Sanders. "It is time to end these egregious loopholes and make the wealthy pay their fair share."
Watch the full "Cost of Inequality" panel discussion:
While the private jets have mostly left the airport outside of Davos, Switzerland following the conclusion of this year's World Economic Forum, a little noticed exchange that took place during the annual gathering has picked up steam in recent days showing what it looks like when some of the world's richest people are confronted by someone willing to call literal "bullshit" on the we-can-save-the-world-with-charity mantra that dominates among the global elite.
"I mean we can talk for a very long time about all these stupid philanthropy schemes. We can invite Bono once more. But, come on, we've got to be talking about taxes. That's it. Taxes, taxes, taxes. All the rest is bullshit in my opinion."
--historian Rutger BregmanIf the world's richest and most powerful are worried about a so-called popular "backlash" in response to the global economic system they defend--and largely control--Rutger Berman, a Dutch historian and author of the book Utopia for Realists, during a panel last week titled "The Cost of Inequality," said the pathway is not complicated. "The answer," he said, "is very simple: Just stop talking about philanthropy, and start talking about taxes."
"I mean we can talk for a very long time about all these stupid philanthropy schemes," Bregman added. "We can invite [U2 frontman] Bono once more. But, come on, we've got to be talking about taxes. That's it. Taxes, taxes, taxes. All the rest is bullshit in my opinion."
Watch the following clip put out by Now This:
\u201c\u2018It feels like I\u2019m at a firefighters conference and no one\u2019s allowed to speak about water.\u2019 \u2014\u00a0This historian wasn\u2019t afraid to confront the billionaires at Davos about their greed\u201d— NowThis (@NowThis) 1548721980
Also on the Davos panel with Bregman was Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International. Just last week, as the WEF summit was just opening, Oxfam released a report on global inequality showing that just 26 billionaires now own as much wealth as the world's 3.8 poorest billion people.
"We have a tax system that leaks so much, that allows $170 billion of money every year to be taken to tax havens and to be denied the developing countries that need that money most," said Byanyima during the panel. "So we have to look at the business model, and we have to look at the role of governments to tax and plow back money into people's lives."
As the video clip began to go viral in the wake of the Davos' gathering, the media team for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)--who has continued to put global inequality and the idea of a "rigged" economy at the heart of his political message--snagged the central claims of Bregman's remarks and on Tuesday put out this version:
\u201cWe have a rigged tax code that has essentially legalized tax-dodging for large corporations and the world's wealthiest individuals. It is time to end these egregious loopholes and make the wealthy pay their fair share.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1548793117
"We have a rigged tax code that has essentially legalized tax-dodging for large corporations and the world's wealthiest individuals," said Sanders. "It is time to end these egregious loopholes and make the wealthy pay their fair share."
Watch the full "Cost of Inequality" panel discussion: