The fiscal problems of the United
States are largely due to the fact that Wall Street pays no taxes. While
working families pay 7% or more in sales tax for the necessities of life, Wall
Street speculators pay no tax on their share of a yearly turnover of over $5
quadrillion (5,000 trillion dollars) in stocks, bonds and derivatives. A 1% tax
on this turnover, equally divided between the federal and state governments,
largely solves the budget deficit at all levels of government. It also
discourages the most dangerous forms of speculation, especially derivatives
speculation, and helps to level the playing field between financial services –
which are now in effect subsidized because they are not taxed – and the
tangible, physical production of manufactured goods on which our economic
survival depends.
A small federal tax on securities
transfer was in effect until the Johnson administration. In New York State, a
small transfer tax remains on the books, but the $20 to $30 billion yearly
proceeds are being remitted to the zombie banks as a result of successful Wall
Street extortion. A Wall Street Sales Tax has been endorsed
by a growing number of public figures, economists, journalists and legislators,
with several bills already having been introduced into the US Congress.
In December, 2012, 11 member states
of the European Union, including Germany and France, endorsed the European
Union financial transaction tax (EU FTT), which will charge 0.1% on the sale of
stocks and bonds, and 0.01% on derivatives. Opposition to this tax has been
centered in Wall Street and the city of London.
