Occupy Wall Street brought questions of economic inequality to the fore in 2011, but the movement seemed unable to develop and popularize an agenda that was taken up politically. That task was one that John thought should be is addressed by someone, and in late 2011 he brought a group together to see what they could do.
The group convened seven public meeting during 2012, and produced a dozen electronic bulletins. In late 2012 it released an action agenda addressed to political leaders. Unable to broaden its support from the several hundred who came to its first meetings, the group ceased its activities late in 2012, although the issue remains alive and critical.
The group posted a broadsheet on its web site outlining how social outcomes are better in a more equal society, using data from the book `The Spirit Level’, and giving examples of how more progressive taxes could generate revenue needed to create a more equal society. In Canada, unlike in many other countries including United States, there is no estate tax, but if there were, it could produce about $3.5 billion a year.
The group believes that finding new tax revenue is a better strategy than cutting government programs which always results in more inequality.
For more information, please visit the Economic Inequality Facebook page.