In the paradox of scarcity of abundance in which we live, the world grows well-fed on the one hand and falls short, very short, on the other. Global wealth has reached $100 trillion and the planet is getting thinner. How is it possible? The thing is that “fattening” should come from an equitable distribution of wealth, but in the refined kitchens of the world, where the real stew is cooked, they warn you that it is best to continue with the dominant diet and not shake the brazier too much.
Lately there are headlines that if you read them out loud on the subway you will organize a revolution right there. “One in three multinationals pay less than 10% of their global profit in taxes.” Nothing more, nothing less. The descendant of the founders of the multinational BASF and heir to 4 billion euros, Marlene Engelhorn, appeared at the doors of the Davos Forum with a banner in which she called for a strong increase in taxes on the rich and companies. “Stop talking about philanthropy and start talking about what matters: taxes,” she said. It’s nice to know that there are some billionaires who care about doing what politics doesn’t. It’s not the only one. But black swans are rare. Today the truth still exists, but like money, it is in few hands.
In the city of Los Angeles the rich have fled. The stampede has been dizzying. The Venice and Brentwood neighborhoods have been left temporarily empty. Last year, 126 property transactions worth over five million dollars were closed. The reason for the outrage is the so-called “mansion tax,” approved in a popular referendum last fall. A rate that taxes 4% on the sale of residences that exceed five million dollars. A few weeks ago it climbed to 5%. A special tax aimed at addressing the urgent problem of the “homeless” in the Californian city. For each unit sold, a minimum of $250,000 is diverted to the construction of social housing.
The House LA program that uses the “mansion tax” is one of the most progressive in the US. Among the sports celebrities who rushed to liquidate their mansions to avoid the tax rate are former soccer players David Beckham, Wayne Rooney , Zlatan Ibrahimovic and NBA and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. Former Real Madrid player Gareth Bale could not quickly get rid of his home and had to pay $287,000 in special tax. Hollywood stars Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carrey and Mark Wahlberg joined the frantic scramble to avoid the “homeless” tax, hastily strengthening the “American dream” of inequality.
Who was going to say it. The second largest city in the United States designs refined taxes for the rich. I don’t know what Milei will think of all this. Maybe he will try to break diplomatic relations with California. Something you might think can be done. Who knows? It is difficult to reason with illiterate daffodils, which is why the world is more populated with navels than brains.
The wealth tax is one of the most effective ways to restore a sense of justice to society. Something that reminds us that human beings can be worthy and fair, and that certainty is enough to save us. That is, to save us from the worst that we are.
2024-05-23 14:01:54
#Milei #Beckham #rich #cry #Opinion
