With the state of the planet in 2019, many people have just run all out of f**ks to give. That might be why Dutch historian Rutger Bregman decided to call out a room full of rich people at the 2019 World Economic Forum.
The World Economic Forum is a yearly event in which the world’s “economic elite” gather to discuss the pressing issues of the day, including climate change and the economy. The forum took place, as it always does, in Davos, Switzerland.
Rutger was invited to speak on a private panel to an audience of some of the world’s richest people.
As he pointed out, nobody was talking about the most obvious issue.
“I mean 1500 private jets have flown in here to hear Sir David Attenborough speak about how we’re wrecking the planet. I hear people talking the language of participation and justice and equality and transparency,” Rutger said.
“But then almost no one raises the real issue of tax avoidance. And of the rich just not paying their fair share. It feels like I’m at a firefighters conference and no one is allowed to speak about water.”
Photo Credit: Flickr
Rutger used his knowledge of history to school these rich folks on the fact that a very high tax rate is more realistic than they might think. In the US, the top marginal tax rate has been as high as 91 percent in the past.
All the non-rich folks at home loved how refreshingly honest Rutger was, and the video has gone majorly viral.
Rutger went on to assert that all the kind-hearted philanthropy in the world won’t solve the ultimate issue of inequality.
“Taxes, taxes, taxes – all the rest is bullshit, in my opinion.”
The video is a bit long, but it sure is worth it:
I mean…right?!
