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

[Michael Weissman]

Cosponsorship sounds great.

I teach at 5 on Tu, so will only catch the start, but maybe we could do a
slightly specialized leaflet.

On Thu, Apr 12, 2012 at 11:20 AM, Ian K <iankdavis at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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.org calendar 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
>> http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/occupycu
>>
>>
>
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>


-- 
Michael Weissman
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