The problem we are facing

Saddening statistics published this week about the "billionaire boom" – including the fact that 4 out of every 5 dollars generated in 2017 went to the world's richest 1 percent. https://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases/2018-01-22/richest-1-percent-bagged-82-percent-wealth-created-last-year Oxfam suggested these measures to combat the growing disparities: Limit returns to shareholders and top executives, and ensure all workers receive a minimum ‘living’ wage that would enable them to have a decent quality of life. For example, in Nigeria, the legal minimum wage would need to be tripled to ensure decent living standards. Eliminate the gender pay gap and protect the rights of women workers. At current rates of change, it will take 217 years to close the gap in pay and employment opportunities between women and men. Ensure the wealthy pay their fair share of tax through higher taxes and a crackdown on tax avoidance, and increase spending on public services such as healthcare and education. Oxfam estimates a global tax of 1.5 percent on billionaires’ wealth could pay for every child to go to school. What do you all think? Any other measures you think would be effective?

Poverty has been a perennial issue and a stain on the progress of humanity. While the presence of poverty cannot be eliminated, the government must take an activist role by alleviating the impacts of poverty. Given that I am from the U.S. and of Indian origin, I have witnessed urban poverty in both countries. I've seen that victims of poverty often have no choice but to engage in dangerous, illegal activities (i.e. lying to authority, stealing, selling items amidst moving traffic on the streets etc.). This puts such individuals, specifically the youth and elderly, vulnerable to unimaginable dangers. Poverty continues through generations and only gets more severe as income inequality increases through modern day globalization and technology. The government must impose a series of programs to help poverty victims break the cycle. They should start with helping the youth (after all, the youth are the future!)- by having a proper education system, programs which enforce moral values, and a way to provide the bare minimum resources to families in need. As per funding, this should be the immediate matter for the national budget and top priority for governments to fund. This can help families who have long endured poverty break the cycle and find ethical, well-paying jobs.

To what extent does taxation and the current tax system in your community and country contribute to poverty? Many refer to a poverty tax ( PBS ) or ghetto tax, which despite not being a literal tax, refers to the situation where people pay higher costs for equivalent goods or services because they are poor or live in a poor area. Examples include health care and groceries. Can the tax code be reformed to reduce poverty? If so, how so?