The
One Nation Campaign was launched today by students and young researchers at Princeton University. The fundraising campaign asks Americans to support victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita & Wilma by returning the tax savings they received in 2002-4 from recent tax cut legislation. By giving, you will be helping your neighbors in the Gulf and making a powerful statement demanding the repeal of tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% of Americans.
We are asking supporters to donate directly to a select group of established non-profit charities providing disaster relief in the Gulf regions. The One Nation Campaign aims to raise $1 million for charity and in so doing, support legislative efforts to repeal the tax cuts to the wealthiest 1% of Americans. Please explore www.mytaxcutforkatrina.org to find out how to join the campaign. More info below the fold.
The One Nation Campaign @ Princeton University
Why Give Back Your Tax Savings?
Why do we ask you to symbolically return your tax cut? Taxes are a powerful symbol of individual financial sacrifice for the public good. Despite the reasoning behind the tax cuts -- "it's your money" -- there are many public goods Americans desire, but which cannot be purchased by individuals. These goods require instead that communities pool their resources. It is our money, and we want it to work for our nation.
We ask citizens to return their tax savings, i.e., money not paid to the government due to the recent tax cuts, in order to affirm the positive role government should play in its citizens' lives, not to introduce a new strategy to have the private sector cover our common social needs.
Where Do Donations of Tax Savings Go?
All donations are given directly to highly regarded 501c3 charitable organizations providing relief and assistance to the victims of the recent hurricanes. One Nation is a campaign not a fund. Information on how to give from the One Nation home page, including a compilation of estimated tax savings by annual income, can be found at One Nation Giving.
How Bad Are the Tax Cuts, Really?
In short, very bad.
The 2001 and 2003 tax cuts have benefited disproportionately the wealthiest 1% of Americans. Literally hundreds of billions of dollars is being offered as "tax relief" to those who do not need it, and pressure is mounting to find cuts in vital social, medical and educational programs to make up the budget shortfall. The Figure below demonstrates the inequity of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, which resulted in the wealthiest Americans receiving tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax relief, while the middle class continue to struggle from paycheck to paycheck. Click here for more tax facts and information.
How Can You Help?
Donate as part of the One Nation campaign.
Spread the word of this campaign and diary to friends and family.
Call your Senator or Representative. Ask them to support/sponsor legislative efforts to repeal the tax cuts to the wealthiest 1% of Americans. Mention the One Nation Campaign and our website during your call.
Add links to the One Nation Campaign website from your blog or homepage.
Send us your comments with ideas/suggestions on how to spread this campaign.