Have news about HIV? Send press releases, news tips and other announcements to news@poz.com.
June 19, 2012
HIV/AIDS 'Robin Hood Tax' on Wall Street Campaign Launches
The Robin Hood Tax Campaign launched June 19 as high-profile celebrities, economists and hundreds of demonstrators mobilized in 15 cities across the nation to call for a small tax on Wall Street financial transactions; the money would be used to fund national education, infrastructure and health care, including HIV/AIDS, according to a National Nurses United (NNU) statement.
The tax is estimated to raise hundreds of billions of dollars for domestic projects, and would also provide funds to address the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and climate change. A video featuring musicians Chris Martin (Coldplay) and Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) and actor Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers) explains how the tax would work.
Watch the video:
A less than half of 1 percent tax on Wall Street financial transactions would largely apply to the individuals and corporations trading in stocks, bonds, derivatives and currencies who have benefited the most during the U.S. economic recession. The tax wouldn’t be applied to the bank accounts, pensions or savings of the vast majority of the American people. In other words, it’s a tax for the people, not on the people.
The financial transaction tax has been endorsed by more than 1,000 leading economists, including Jeffery Sachs, Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz and Lawrence Mishel of the Economic Policy Institute.
HIV/AIDS advocacy group Health GAP and National Nurses United, the biggest nurses union in the United States, are among the many groups in the health care field to join the Robin Hood Tax Campaign coalition. Organizers believe the tax is not too complex to implement, since the United States had a financial transaction tax from 1914 until 1966 that benefited average Americans and helped grow the middle class.
Frederick wright, Coachella Valley, 2012-08-06 20:50:03
I for one am very excited about the debates and action in moving this policy forward into law, for the USA and our global communties. I was rethinking that we can adjust this proposal for the people to our servant in the USA Congress and to our President to increase the small tax on wall street transactions to make a bit higher for non~USA corporations/investors for it would enhance a balance from the insider trading though foreign investors,just a small return in the loop holes of unjust trade.
thomas bodetti, USA, 2012-07-30 20:28:41
We need to focus our efforts on domestic programs not global we have done more than enough globally, while there are thousands of HIV patients that are not able to afford medications, because of programs that are under funded, in the near future ADAP in my state will stop delivering all medications because they can no longer afford to pay for the cost of the medications, which is so high that the it bills out at 2400 per patient per month, this is ignorant and stupid, right now our clinic is out
Frederick Wright, Coachella Vally, 2012-07-05 11:20:01
Florida guy I must address your position , first of all the concept of the people stealing from the government you have it backwards ,like your Governor Scott directing illegal obtained Medicare funds and it is rumor a secret deal is made for him to pay it all back. Many are demanding Wall Street to pay back the people and government for their corprate welfair scheme. Second this money when collected is proposed to feed,educate,and support the people,not bonuses for lawyers and bankers. Really
FLguy74, Orlando, 2012-07-03 00:22:11
Just another way to tax the dumb masses in this country! Let's just run even more business out our country to foreign investments and stock exchanges to pay for something that most of us got by some irresponsible action. I would like to know how much all of the supporters of this tax have personally given. This kind of thinking has us on the way to being a 3rd world country. BTW, Robin Hood was stealing from the government of the time to give back to the people. Not robbing his neighbors!
Timothy Brown, San Francisco, CA, 2012-06-21 19:06:08
It's about time!
Frederick Wight, Coachelle valley, 2012-06-20 12:30:43
As a Poz Amy reservist I think this tarif,,tax or service fee is a great idea. I also think that walllstreet must wake up to see that American made services like a healthie human capital that operates a safe commuity that supplies electricity,good transportation,police and firier safety, school systems, military protection,Internet support and ect.comes with a price, so these investors can keep making money piled up for their personal greed. Wake up Congress to put Americans first.
