Kolumne Inside America: Was eine Milliardärssteuer mit der Frage nach der Macht zu tun hat
Kalifornien stimmt am Dienstag ab, nicht nur über die Zusammensetzung des Kongresses, sondern auch über eine Zwangsabgabe für Superreiche. Die wehren sich – mit teuren Kampagnen.
The column "Inside America: A Billionaire Tax and the Question of Power" discusses a proposed California initiative called "Proposition 40." Proponents argue that the issue at hand is not just about raising money, but about who holds power in the United States – the citizens or the oligarchs. If approved on Tuesday, this "Volksinitiative 40" would impose a one-time tax of five percent on individuals with a net worth exceeding one billion dollars, due in April 2027.
Officially, it aims to generate necessary funds for healthcare: 90 percent of the revenue would reverse cuts to insurance and clinics, while the remaining 10 percent would support schools and food programs for the poor. Supporters hope California could raise up to 100 billion dollars, among them prominent Senator and left-wing icon Bernie Sanders.
The proposal affects between 200 and 250 ultra-wealthy residents of the most populous U.S. state. Opponents of the plan are vehemently resisting. A warning sign reads: "People like me living in San Francisco will not escape the TV spots and internet ads against 'Prop 40'. At risk is the worst-case scenario: the flight of the super-rich and the corresponding decline in income tax revenues."
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
