How billionaires strangle democracy to get richer
There is something very wrong when billionaires do not pay taxes, deny their workers a living wage and use political donations to prevent people from voting.
This relationship map shows how corporate donations are funneled to Republicans who cut unemployment insurance, block a living wage and push for voter suppression.
The map can be freely shared with this link: https://Dem-Labs.kumu.io/its-all-mine
Navigate the map by clicking on a person or relationship for details.
Unlimited greed
“In 2007, Mr. Bezos, the chief executive of Amazon and the world’s richest man, paid no federal income taxes even as his company’s stock price doubled. Four years later, as his wealth swelled to $18 billion, Mr. Bezos reported losses and even claimed — and received — a tax credit of $4,000 for the care of his children.” ProPublica compared how much in taxes the 25 richest Americans paid as their wealth grew in that time period. Their true tax rate was 3.4%. The tax rate for most Americans is around 35% or 10 times as much. In 2011, a year in which his wealth held roughly steady at $18 billion, Bezos filed a tax return reporting he lost money — his income that year was more than offset by investment losses. What’s more, because, according to the tax law, he made so little, he even claimed and received a $4,000 tax credit for his children.” – ProPublica
Profiting from exploiting the poor
“Those in the economy with the power to do the dictating profit from the desperation of low-wage workers. One man’s misery is another man’s quick and affordable at-home lunch delivery. America finds the money to pay for the things it values. In recent decades, and despite deep gridlock in Washington, we have spent trillions of dollars on wars in the Middle East and tax cuts for the wealthy.” Ezra Klein, NYT