Sometimes when a relationship goes bad, there's nothing else to be done. America has given and given and given to the wealthy, and it just hasn't worked out.
We want a divorce. And as a result, we get half.
So, here's a one-time, instant solution to our "debt crisis" that's likely to also pull us out of the recession.
Take the wealthiest 5% in our country.
Apply a one-time-only 50% wealth tax. (That's right, we're takin' half)
Pay off the national debt in its entirety
Give a rebate to the bottom 95%
See how the numbers work out below the fold…
The top 5% have 72% of the wealth in the country (not "income" as they like to quote, which is lower)
So of the $50 Trillion in total worth, the top 5% have $36 Trillion.
So we take $18 Trillion. The "poorest" of the wealthy will still have over $4 Million to live on.
This reduces their proportional wealth to Reagan era levels… and we know how much the wealthy idolize Ronnie!
From that bounty we carve out $14 Trillion to pay the debt and still have $4 Trillion left over
Redistributing $4 Trillion to 200 million taxpayers is a nifty $20,000 each.
A couple would get $40K!
And those taxpayers will go right out and spend a decent chunk of their rebate so they'll stimulate the living crap out of the economy.
Can't we get half (or even two thirds) of the voters to go for this? "Hey folks, just one quick vote and not only will we completely wipe out the national debt but you also get a check for twenty thousand dollars!"
I know, I know: ZOMG! Redistribution of wealth!!!
We've been redistributing wealth for over 30 years, from those who can least afford it to those who don't need it. It's time to settle up.