100 patriotic millionaires---for decency and doing what's right

From Main Street/Working America blog:

An open letter signed by more than 100 “Patriotic Millionaires”—people who care more about the direction of the country than they do about getting yet another tax break:

We are writing to urge you to put our country ahead of politics.

For the fiscal health of our nation and the well-being of our fellow citizens, we ask that you increase taxes on incomes over $1,000,000.

We make this request as loyal citizens who now or in the past earned an income of $1,000,000 per year or more.

Our country faces a choice – we can pay our debts and build for the future, or we can shirk our financial responsibilities and cripple our nation’s potential.

Our country has been good to us. It provided a foundation through which we could succeed. Now, we want to do our part to keep that foundation strong so that others can succeed as we have.

Please do the right thing for our country. Raise our taxes.

One of the Patriotic Millionaires explains her reasoning:

“For me to be sitting and hoarding my money is insane,” said Gottlieb, whose producer credits include Dirty Dancing and who now teaches at NYU’s Tisch school. “We all give to charity, but that’s not the same as creating a more equitable society.”

Gottlieb said she has been upset by the experience of her grandchildren, who attend a New York City public school where arts education has been cut and parents have had to organize an auction to try to fill the gaps. She added that raising taxes on the wealthiest people would be an important way of reducing the deficit.

“For rich people to moan and groan — nobody likes to pay increased taxes — but it’s not going to change your life in any important way,” she said. “What it can do is help your country.”

Even if you’re not a millionaire yourself, you can sign on as a supporter.


It's enough to give you hope, isn't it?


In spite of George W. Bush and his hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts he and the Republicans gave to the wealthiest of the country and in spite of now House Representative Paul Ryan's goal, in his budget, of giving yet more tax cuts to and for the wealthy, these people see what's right and want to follow through with it.


Maybe it will, one day, get through to the Rethugs yet.


I'm not holding my breath.

Link:  http://www.workingamerica.org/blog/2011/04/14/patriotic-millionaires-want-to-pay-more-taxes/