More tax justice – not just new debts!

Petition

The defense capability and the renovation of ailing infrastructure in Germany should only be financed modestly through debt. Ensure now that tax justice prevails throughout Europe by placing a greater burden on the wealthy and on companies that make high profits.

Since the 1980s, companies and wealthy individuals worldwide have benefited to an unprecedented extent from the exploitation of infrastructure and the environment. To make this possible, taxes were reduced and, over decades, citizen-financed public goods such as health, education, communication and transportation were sold.

The enormous damage caused by this overexploitation is now catching up with us. To counteract this, high debts are being planned throughout Europe. These are to finance the once taken for granted, now crumbling state welfare, including protection against attacks in violation of international law. At this point in time, it is of course essential to get large financial packages off the ground quickly, and to incur debt to do so. But this can only be a temporary solution:

Future generations are already facing the enormous task of combating climate change and must not be burdened further. The high additional interest rates would severely restrict government budgets in their day-to-day tasks, for example in the social sector. Support for poor countries would also have to be reduced, which would force more people to flee. Therefore, the necessary funds must be refinanced through taxes.

In order to establish fair taxation in the medium term, the following taxes must be levied for the first time or adjusted in line with income or turnover:

• Financial transaction tax of at least 1%
• Stock exchange tax
• Corporation tax
• Capital gains tax
• Wealth tax
• Inheritance tax
• Kerosene tax for all flights
• Exodus and de-gambling tax up to 100% **) depending on turnover/income for people and companies that want to relocate their primary residence
• More than previously consumption-based CO2 tax
• Levying corporate taxes in the country of turnover
• Strict sanctions against tax havens, up to and including Swift exclusion
• Closing tax loopholes

These measures will generate such high revenues that many consumption taxes can be reduced for the benefit of all. Nevertheless, the state will collect significantly more than before.

By way of illustration: 

In Germany alone, a financial transaction tax, which currently does not even exist, would raise several hundred billion euros at a rate of 1%. 

After World War II, the top tax rate in the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany was as high as 95% to finance the reconstruction. Today's challenges, such as man-made climate change, are no less daunting. A top tax rate of 90% would mean that someone with a gross income of €6 million per year would in future receive a net monthly income of €50,000 – more than enough for a comfortable life.
 

*) Income and revenue-based means a proportional increase. The higher the income or revenue, the higher the percentage that has to be paid in tax – as is already the case with income tax today. Appropriate allowances must, of course, ensure that heirs continue to run family businesses, that companies set aside reserves for employees, or that people can live in an inherited house themselves.

**) Expected profits make it possible to levy taxes of up to 100%. If necessary, deferral plans could be drawn up.