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.

    • AlteredStateBlob@kbin.social
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      10 months ago

      Is he funding lobbyists to affect this kind of change? No.
      Is he employing top tier accountants to make sure he doesn’t pay his fair share like the poors? Betcha.
      Does he funnel his wealth into charitable foundations that are a tax write off leading to him getting money rather than having to pay it, while it stays in an eco system he has full control over? Betcha.
      Is he buying expensive art, property, etc. to incur expenses that are tax write offs? Betcha.

      Since I’m not a Billionaire, I won’t be able to tell you all the ways that cunt is 100% pushing for a status quo while putting out fluff pieces like these that make him look good while doing literally nothing to affect the change he supposedly wants.

      Wouldn’t even be surprised if this was something to get out ahead of some revelations about tax evasion, so if you ever search up Bill Gates taxes, all you get is this curated nonsense of what a stand up good lad he is, trying oh so hard to pay his fair share. Why won’t anyone take his money? Poor Bill. Must be hard not getting taxed and being utterly powerless to do anything about that. Shucks. Now he has to go another decade without ever coming close to paying his fair share.

      Oh, also garbage takes like these, where he publicly opposed new tax plans - but it’s fine, it was all cute and the audience laughed and he payed soooo much, sooo many taxes. https://youtu.be/dXxP4S_WwS0

    • dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      10 months ago

      By being part of the billionaire owner class for decades and saying nothing about it until there’s very real threats of working class solidarity.

      • Aatube@kbin.social
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        10 months ago

        Being part of the billionaire class prevents taxes being levied against you?

            • Eldritch@lemmy.world
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              10 months ago

              Aaah, sealioning then. That’s like asking for specifics about this sun rising in the east thing. If you haven’t been observant enough at this point to have noticed. Then someone taking good time out of their lives to gather, organize and set. The evidence in your lap isn’t going to change things.

              The whole system from the start was designed by, and to favor the wealthy. And it’s never really changed.

              • Aatube@kbin.social
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                10 months ago

                Dude, I just need something I can actually search for or, even better, a link. I’ve scoured the Wikipedia pages about Gates and they have no mention. I’ve searched the search results and as expected, there was nothing. I’ve just asked politely once, or maybe twice, and get nothing I want in response but an accusation of sealioning? If it’s the “polite” part that sets you off: fuck shit mom damn darn.

                • Eldritch@lemmy.world
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                  10 months ago

                  It’s got nothing to do with politeness. And everything to do with perceived disingenuousness. If you’re asking someone to point you to evidence of a wealthy person who maintains fleets of lawyers and assistants. To do things for them. Doing something personally, especially something incriminating. Can you admit to seeing how that might be seen as disingenuous and not wanting to actually find the truth? Nothing is almost ever as simple as that.

                  • Aatube@kbin.social
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                    10 months ago

                    Sure, but you’ve also got to admit that I can also see you as lazy and being very irritable at the second reply. https://kbin.social/m/news@lemmy.world/t/780024/-/comment/4723316 is all I know right now, and it would only be all the more incriminating if he actually took a lobbying stance on this.