Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Billionaire Richard Branson: Taxing the extremely wealthy like me 'makes sense'
CNBC ^ | 2/14/19 | Berkeley Lovelace Jr.

Posted on 02/15/2019 7:20:49 AM PST by Lockbox

Billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist Richard Branson said Thursday that taxing the rich "makes sense," arguing the extremely affluent have a responsibility to tackle some of the biggest problems in the world, including wealth disparities.

"People like myself are incredibly fortunate," the Virgin Group founder told CNBC's Morgan Brennan in an interview. "I suspect there should be higher taxes for the wealthy around the world and I don't think they would object to that."

Branson — with a net worth of $4.1 billion, according to Forbes — is part of the growing circle of elite business leaders questioning wealth disparity in the world. He said that governments need to get taxes from "somewhere" while helping the middle class and poor.

During the Milken Institute Summit in Abu Dhabi earlier this week, Branson expressed similar views. "We have to try and do everything we can to lift the vast majority of people up, when for the last few years the vast majority have not seen their living standards improve," he told an audience on Tuesday evening.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: americancitizen; billionaires; branson; citizen; classenvy; leftist; propaganda; rich; richardbranson; socailists; socialist; usa
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last
To: Lockbox

It’s just talk.
If they were really willing to part with their billions they wouldn’t be using the tax shelters created by their Democrat buddies.
They want to have it both ways. Hypocrites.


21 posted on 02/15/2019 7:32:55 AM PST by Wiser now (Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

>>>Plank #2 of the Communist Manifesto: A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.

So, are we less Communist today than in the 1950s when we had a top marginal tax rate of 91%?


22 posted on 02/15/2019 7:33:10 AM PST by oincobx
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Lockbox

If he wants to change the laws, he should run for office and try to get elected on raising taxes.


23 posted on 02/15/2019 7:34:16 AM PST by 1Old Pro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lockbox

The “Tax Me More Fund”. Branson should heavily pay in as he’s a brit.


24 posted on 02/15/2019 7:34:35 AM PST by onedoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: b4me

All these statements from the rich are just cover to protect them from the masses. You are correct there is nothing preventing the rich from just writing checks to whom ever they want to help.


25 posted on 02/15/2019 7:35:00 AM PST by Lockbox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Lockbox

Even if all these virtue signaling billionaires gave all of their money to the US government... it wouldn’t even make a dent in the national debt. Our spendthrift politicians are diverting trillions of dollars a year to nonsense that the founders could never even have imagined. Manufactured crisis such as “global warming” are slight of hand to keep the public distracted from ending the real crisis which is out of control government diversion of funds.


26 posted on 02/15/2019 7:35:38 AM PST by fireman15
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lockbox

Stop virtue-signaling. Write checks to the IRS to make up the difference between taxes levied, and what you believe is a “fair” amount.


27 posted on 02/15/2019 7:36:47 AM PST by windsorknot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lockbox

The issue he doesn’t address is what the government will do with the money.

People like Branson will buy stuf and invest their money in companies that create wealth and provide jobs.

Governments typically waste the money in their own capitol areas: boondoggles, payoffs, graft, lobbyists ...

Tax cuts always result in increased tax revenues.

Taxes are about control, not income.


28 posted on 02/15/2019 7:38:50 AM PST by budj (combat vet, 2nd of 3 generations)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lockbox

If they give it away, they will give it to a foundation they control.


29 posted on 02/15/2019 7:39:08 AM PST by ActresponsiblyinVA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: 1Old Pro

He’s a Brit.


30 posted on 02/15/2019 7:40:47 AM PST by Mears
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Lockbox

If it’s a great idea than just give your money to Government and watch it get wasted


31 posted on 02/15/2019 7:40:50 AM PST by butlerweave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ActresponsiblyinVA

they are already using the foundation scam...….


32 posted on 02/15/2019 7:40:51 AM PST by Lockbox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Lockbox

So what is Branson getting in return from his crooked political friends for making this statement?

There are much better ways to help the world with your money than handing it over to criminals.


33 posted on 02/15/2019 7:41:13 AM PST by Moonman62 (Facts are racist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2banana

Why would they do this? Ireland is a corporate tax haven. Businesses flock to go there as it has one of the lowest rates of tax in the world. I doubt U2 conducts business as individuals. I’m sure they are tied up in some form of entity. That doesn’t make sense to me. Unless they went to Bermuda or the Caymans


34 posted on 02/15/2019 7:41:29 AM PST by TangledUpInBlue
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Lockbox

So does robbing you.


35 posted on 02/15/2019 7:41:52 AM PST by Skywise
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lockbox

Hey Richie,

I’ll wait by my mailbox. Send me $200K - I’ll do good with it.


36 posted on 02/15/2019 7:42:01 AM PST by TangledUpInBlue
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lockbox

The IRS will happily accept his check. Lead by example, a$$hole.


37 posted on 02/15/2019 7:43:13 AM PST by bk1000 (I stand with Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lockbox
Libs can make their checks payable to the US Treasury.

Time for them to put up or shut up.

38 posted on 02/15/2019 7:47:05 AM PST by ealgeone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lockbox
That's what she said...


39 posted on 02/15/2019 7:47:48 AM PST by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EQAndyBuzz

#19 A 5% national VAT tax will become 20% in no time. See Europe. Plus they add more taxes.


40 posted on 02/15/2019 7:58:01 AM PST by minnesota_bound
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson