[OccupyCU] tax day protest invitation - Tues April 17th

[Ian K]

Hi Ricky,

Regressive taxation is a crucial and under-appreciated issue. I am glad you
are calling attention to it. I will post this event to the
occupycu.orgcalendar for general perusal. Co-sponsorship and
"endorsements" will need
to come from the GA which is meeting on Friday at 6 in the Champaign public
library. I hope you can bring it to the meeting.

Solid,

IKD
occupycu.org

On Thu, Apr 12, 2012 at 10:45 AM, Ricky Baldwin <rbaldwin at seiu73.org> wrote:

> Fellow Occupiers,
>
> My union and a statewide "StandUp Coalition" (that is focussed on ditching
> Illinois's so-called "flat" tax rate in favor of taxing the rich more)
> would like to invite you and anybody you could bring to a small protest and
> leaflet-passing event at the main Champaign Post Office this coming Tuesday
> April 17th, 4-6pm.
>
> This is a simple one.  If we would like "Occupy C-U" to be a co-sponsor,
> that's fine.  If not, we'd be happy if some folks just show up and mayber
> help pass out some leaflets.
>
> The issue is this: in Illinois we have, on paper, a "flat" tax, i.e.
> everybody pays a flat 5% or their income.  In reality, the 1% pays
> considerably less than than that - usually half or less - because of
> deductions for business expenses, tax shelters of various kinds, and
> because some more expensive items they have access to are not taxed like
> the items the rest of us buy (diaper service as opposed to buying diapers,
> for example).  That's not even counting the huge chunk of the 1%'s income
> that doesn't "count" as income because it comes from capital gains.
>
> What this means in practice is that Illinois relies more heavily on other
> taxes - like sales taxes - that hit the poor harder.  Once again, the poor
> pay more.
>
> I probably don't need to belabor the point to you guys.  But I do want to
> point out that even in Mississippi, where I'm from, the state has three tax
> tiers - 3% for low income, 4% for the middle, and 5% for the wealthy - far
> more progressive than the Illinois "flat" tax.  And most states around
> Illinois have more progressive taxes, too.
>
> So that's the issue.  If you want to come out, I'd personally love to see
> some fellow Occupiers there.  Thanks!
>
> Para el pueblo-
> Ricky
>
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> OccupyCU at lists.chambana.net
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>
>
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