Last week, dozens of corporate bigwigs gathered in Baton Rouge, just a stone's throw away from New Orleans, for the 25th Annual Business Awards and Hall of Fame. Among the vague references to the devastating effects of Katrina, there was no talk of tax cuts for the poor that provide financial relief to the growing number of poor Americans. There was no scrutinizing of current tax policies that insulate the wallets of corporate giants while providing little to no support for those who fall into the lowest tax brackets. And, among these business executives decked out in their finest attire, we are willing to bet that there was no talk of corporate responsibility practices.
There was, however, a lot of talk about the “Forgotten America.” But as far as translating this fuzzy sentiment into tax relief policies that help the poor, the only thing getting produced in New Orleans is hot air, which the city possesses enough of.
With Americans paying record prices at the gas pump, people losing their homes to foreclosures, and the impending food crisis looming, poor Americans face dismal consequences. As our leaders pat themselves on the back for remembering, at least in rhetoric, the downtrodden who have been hurt by policies that heavily tax the poor, when it comes to tax programs, it appears that the current administration possesses a rather limited memory.
What New Orleans residents and millions of Americans suffering through tough economic times need are tax policies that create a level playing field and give everyone a fair chance at prosperity and, in the case of New Orleans residents, recovery. While the well-off gather inside their bubble of affluence in Baton Rouge, send them a message that they can't turn their back on the poor forever by signing our Petition for Progressive Taxation.