From the
Minneapolis Star Tribune today comes this true gem --
More than 200 wealthy Minnesotans signed a full-page ad that appears in the Star Tribune today asking the state to raise $2 billion for various initiatives by increasing the state's tax burden for high-salary earners.
Time for some good news around these parts.
Furthermore...
"We need to invest more in our future," said Joel Kramer, former publisher of the Star Tribune and founder of think tank Growth and Justice that organized the "Invest for Real Prosperity" fiscal strategy.
The new money should be used to improve educational opportunities, provide affordable health care and fund transportation needs, Kramer said. His group has argued for several years that the state's wealthiest residents should pay higher taxes to fund needed government programs.
In a footnote...
"There are plenty of wealthy people who disagree with this."
Yes, there are. Here's a fitting tribute to the other side of the coin from Minnesota, David Strom, who was interviewed this morning on NPR and called the group a bunch of "limousine liberals".
What continues to surprise me is how many "rich" people think they got their by their own actions and not those of the thousands of their employees, customers and yes, even their elders. I've been called a socialist, redistributionist and less kind things, but unless you have people who act like Joel Kramer, supply side economics simply doesn't work. The competition to see who can accumulate the largest pile of dollars continues unabated in those circles until the distinction between those who have, and those who have not becomes so vast, that their wealth is taken from them by force.
Is that really what you want Mr. Strom? Your short-sightedness will catch up with you in the end.
A BIG THANK YOU to the members of the INVEST FOR REAL PROSPERITY think tank. May your businesses continue to grow and prosper.