{"html":"\t\n\t\u003C!-- Advertisement Script --\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022postid-391440 scrolltrace textContainer_Truncate\u0022 articlelisttitle=\u0022I\u2019m Fine With Sending Jeff Bezos Into Space, As Long as He Pays His Taxes Here on Earth\u0022 articlelistlinks=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/economy\/jeff-bezos-space-taxes\/\u0022 article-post-id=\u0022391440\u0022 article-keyword=\u0022\u0027bernie-san\u0027, \u0027jeff-bezos\u0027, \u0027taxes\u0027\u0022 article-subject=\u0022\u0027budgets\u0027, \u0027class\u0027, \u0027congress\u0027, \u0027democrats\u0027, \u0027economics\u0027, \u0027economy\u0027, \u0027government\u0027, \u0027inequality\u0027, \u0027politics\u0027, \u0027republican\u0027\u0022 article-authors=\u0022\u0027john-n\u0027\u0022\u003E\n\t\n\t\t\u003Carticle id=\u0022url-title\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\u0022tn_pixel_391440_1\u0022 style=\u0027height:0px; width:0px;\u0027\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\u0022tn_pixel_391440_2\u0022 style=\u0027height:0px; width:0px;\u0027\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\u003Cheader class=\u0022article-header\u0022\u003E\t\n\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022article-header-content\u0022\u003E\t\t\n\t\t\u003Cul class=\u0022article-info\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022category\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/subject\/inequality\/\u0022 class=\u0022anchor_subject\u0022 subjectlink=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/subject\/inequality\/\u0022\u003EInequality\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022subcategory\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/keyword\/jeff-bezos\/\u0022\u003EJeff Bezos\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022subcategory\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/keyword\/taxes\/\u0022\u003ETaxes\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch1 class=\u0022article_title hide\u0022\u003EI\u2019m Fine With Sending Jeff Bezos Into Space, As Long as He Pays His Taxes Here on Earth\u003C\/h1\u003E\u003Ch1 class=\u0022title\u0022\u003EI\u2019m Fine With Sending Jeff Bezos Into Space, As Long as He Pays His Taxes Here on Earth\u003C\/h1\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0027subtitle\u0027\u003ETaxing the rich might curtail Bezos\u2019s extraterrestrial activities. But it would make this corner of Planet Earth more habitable.\u003C\/h2\u003E\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022byline\u0022 data-nosnippet\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Ch2 class=\u0022author_name\u0022\u003EBy \u003Ca class=\u0022author\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/john-nichols\/\u0022\u003EJohn Nichols\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ch4 class=\u0022time is_date article_pub_time\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\tYesterday 11:42 am\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/h4\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\n\t\t\u003C!--\u003Cul class=\u0022article-share\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca class=\u0022social-share fb\u0022 href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EFacebook\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca class=\u0022social-share tw\u0022 href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ETwitter\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca class=\u0022social-share email\u0022 href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EEmail\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca class=\u0022social-share tn_print\u0022 href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 onclick=\u0022tn_print_fn()\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EPrint\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\u003C\/ul\u003E--\u003E\n\t\t\n\t\t\u003Cul class=\u0022article-share\u0022 data-nosnippet style=\u0022display: none;\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share fb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Efb\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share tw\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Etw\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share mail email\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Email\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share tn_print\u0022 onclick=\u0022tn_print_fn()\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EPrint\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share msg\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Emsg\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share wa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Ewa\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share sms\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Esms\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share bookmark tn-sfg-add-to-list hide\u0022 onclick=\u0022tnAddToReadingList(this, 391440)\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EBookmark\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E \t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022sharethis-inline-share-buttons\u0022 id=\u0022inline-share-button-391440\u0022style= \u0022margin : 15px 0;\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/header\u003E\n\n\u003Csection class=\u0022tnpaywallcontent article-body  abody-391440 keep-reading \u0022\u003E\n\t\u003Ctime class=\u0022tn_publish_date hide\u0022\u003EJuly 19, 2021\u003C\/time\u003E\n\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022article-body-inner\u0022\u003E\n\t\u003Caside class=\u0022left full-width-mobile image wide indent\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca class=\u0022gallery imgHover\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/bezos-taxes-capitol-hill-gty.jpg\u0022 title=\u0022A mobile billboard calling for higher taxes on billionaire Jeff Bezos on Capitol Hill. 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\u003C\/span\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022cta\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenationwineclub.com\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cinput type=\u0022button\u0022 class=\u0022btn btn_5000b2 para_one_button\u0022 name=\u0022submit_sailthru\u0022 value=\u0022LEARN MORE\u0022 style=\u0022\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground-color:#dd3333;color:#ffffff;\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/a\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003C\/aside\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003Cscript\u003Eparagraph_module[391440] = [{\u0022order\u0022:\u00222\u0022,\u0022event_name\u0022:\u0022paragraph-1-subscribeA\u0022,\u0022user_logged_in\u0022:\u00221\u0022},{\u0022order\u0022:\u00223\u0022,\u0022event_name\u0022:\u0022paragraph-1-weekly\u0022,\u0022user_logged_in\u0022:\u0022\u0022},{\u0022order\u0022:\u00224\u0022,\u0022event_name\u0022:\u0022paragraph-1-books-signup\u0022,\u0022user_logged_in\u0022:\u0022\u0022},{\u0022order\u0022:\u00221\u0022,\u0022event_name\u0022:\u0022paragraph-1-subscribeB\u0022,\u0022user_logged_in\u0022:\u00221\u0022},{\u0022order\u0022:\u00225\u0022,\u0022event_name\u0022:\u0022paragraph-1-donateA\u0022,\u0022user_logged_in\u0022:\u0022\u0022},{\u0022order\u0022:\u00226\u0022,\u0022event_name\u0022:\u0022paragraph-1-wineclub\u0022,\u0022user_logged_in\u0022:\u0022\u0022}];\u003C\/script\u003E \u003Cp\u003EAs \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/investing\/how-jeff-bezos-got-be-worlds-richest-man\/\u0022\u003Ethe richest man in the world\u003C\/a\u003E prepares to rocket into space, more than 160,000 Americans have signed \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.change.org\/p\/the-proletariat-do-not-allow-jeff-bezos-to-return-to-earth\u0022\u003Ea petition\u003C\/a\u003E that demands, \u201cDo not allow Jeff Bezos to return to Earth.\u201d\t\t\t\t\u003Caside class=\u0022ad right most-popular-plus-ad grey_back\u0022\u003E\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv align=\u0022center\u0022 id=\u0022thenation_right_rail_391440\u0022 data-freestar-ad=\u0022__300x600\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t  \u003Cscript data-cfasync=\u0022false\u0022 type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\tfreestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplacementName: \u0022thenation_right_rail\u0022, \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tslotId: \u0022thenation_right_rail_391440\u0022,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttargeting:{\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_author: [\u0027john-n\u0027],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_articleid: [391440],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_ptype: \u0027article\u0027,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_keyword: [\u0027bernie-san\u0027, \u0027jeff-bezos\u0027, \u0027taxes\u0027],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_subject: [\u0027budgets\u0027, \u0027class\u0027, \u0027congress\u0027, \u0027democrats\u0027, \u0027economics\u0027, \u0027economy\u0027, \u0027government\u0027, \u0027inequality\u0027, \u0027politics\u0027, \u0027republican\u0027],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_pos: \u0027rectangle_1\u0027,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_loc:\u0027atf\u0027\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t});\n\t\t\t\t\t  \u003C\/script\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003C\/aside\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\n\u003Cp\u003EI have a hard time getting excited one way or the other about the otherworldly adventures of the billionaire class.\n\u003Cp\u003EI\u2019d just like Mr. Bezos to pay his taxes on the planet where he currently resides.\n\u003Cp\u003EA \u003Cem\u003EProPublica\u003C\/em\u003E report published last month \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/the-secret-irs-files-trove-of-never-before-seen-records-reveal-how-the-wealthiest-avoid-income-tax\u0022\u003Erevealed\u003C\/a\u003E, \u201cIn 2007, Jeff Bezos, then a multibillionaire and now the world\u2019s richest man, did not pay a penny in federal income taxes.\u201d\u003Cdiv id=\u0022ConnatixPlaceholder\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt wasn\u2019t like Bezos fell on hard times in the mid-2000s. According to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/sarahhansen\/2021\/06\/08\/richest-americans-including-bezos-musk-and-buffett-paid-federal-income-taxes-equaling-just-34-of-401-billion-in-new-wealth-bombshell-report-shows\/?sh=68d466b27fe1\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EForbes\u003C\/em\u003E magazine\u003C\/a\u003E, his personal fortune increased by $3.8 billion in 2007. Yet Bezos somehow avoided taking a hit from the IRS.\t\t \u003Caside class=\u0022left indent indents related-newarticle author-modules\u0022 data-nosnippet\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022author-img\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/john-nichols\/\u0022 class=\u0022no-target-blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/johnnichols_small1.jpg?scale=60&compress=80\u0022 alt=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ch4\u003E \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/john-nichols\/\u0022\u003EMORE FROM John Nichols\u003C\/a\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/h4\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022newrelated-blocks\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/democrats-3-5-trillion-budget\/\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ch5\u003EAn Unapologetic \u2018Tax the Rich\u2019 Message Is the Key to Passing the Democratic Budget Plan\u003C\/h5\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022author\u0022\u003EJuly 15, 2021\u003C\/p\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022newrelated-blocks\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/utopia-politics-paine-sanders\/\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ch5\u003EUtopia Is Possible\u2014Yes, Even Now, Especially Now\u2014but We Have to Demand It\u003C\/h5\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022author\u0022\u003EJuly 15, 2021\u003C\/p\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022newrelated-blocks\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/society\/texas-legislature-voting-rights\/\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ch5\u003ETexas Democrats Have the Right Sense of Urgency for the Fight Against Jim Crow 2.0\u003C\/h5\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022author\u0022\u003EJuly 13, 2021\u003C\/p\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022newrelated-blocks\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\u0022author\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/john-nichols\/\u0022\u003EAuthor page\u003C\/a\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/p\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u003C\/aside\u003E\n\t\t\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHow did a person enjoying that sort of wealth explosion end up paying no income tax?\u201d asked \u003Cem\u003EProPublica\u003C\/em\u003E. Well, the forensic investigators \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/the-secret-irs-files-trove-of-never-before-seen-records-reveal-how-the-wealthiest-avoid-income-tax\u0022\u003Eexplained\u003C\/a\u003E, \u201cIn that year, Bezos, who filed his taxes jointly with his then-wife, MacKenzie Scott, reported a paltry (for him) $46 million in income, largely from interest and dividend payments on outside investments. He was able to offset every penny he earned with losses from side investments and various deductions, like interest expenses on debts and the vague catchall category of \u2018other expenses.\u2019\u201d\n\u003Cp\u003EBut Bezos didn\u2019t just get lucky in 2007.\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn 2011, a year in which his wealth held roughly steady at $18 billion, Bezos filed a tax return reporting he lost money\u2014his income that year was more than offset by investment losses. What\u2019s more, because, according to the tax law, he made so little, he even claimed and received a $4,000 tax credit for his children,\u201d reported \u003Cem\u003EProPublica\u003C\/em\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/the-secret-irs-files-trove-of-never-before-seen-records-reveal-how-the-wealthiest-avoid-income-tax\u0022\u003Ewhich added\u003C\/a\u003E, \u201cHis tax avoidance is even more striking if you examine 2006 to 2018, a period for which \u003Cem\u003EProPublica\u003C\/em\u003E has complete data. Bezos\u2019 wealth increased by $127 billion, according to \u003Cem\u003EForbes\u003C\/em\u003E, but he reported a total of $6.5 billion in income. The $1.4 billion he paid in personal federal taxes is a massive number\u2014yet it amounts to a 1.1 percent true tax rate on the rise in his fortune.\u201d\u003Caside class=\u0022right hidden-on-mobile most-popular-plus-ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022most-popular hover_b_remove thenation-single-article-most-popular\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/aside\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThat was before a year and a half of pandemic profiteering that saw the very rich get very much richer.\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOver the last 16 months, since the formal beginning of the pandemic lockdown, the combined wealth of 713 U.S. billionaires has surged by $1.8 trillion, a gain of almost 60 percent. The total combined wealth of U.S. billionaires increased from $2.9 trillion on March 18, 2020 to $4.7 trillion on July 9, 2021,\u201d \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/inequality.org\/great-divide\/updates-billionaire-pandemic\/\u0022\u003Eexplains\u003C\/a\u003E Chuck Collins, who directs the Program on Inequality and the Common Good for the Institute for Policy Studies.\n\u003Cp\u003ERocketman leads the pack.\u003Cdiv class=\u0022inline-counter\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAmazon\u2019s Jeff Bezos, almost a \u2018double-centi-billionaire\u2019 with a net worth of nearly $197 billion, is up 74 percent over the last 13 months,\u201d \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/inequality.org\/great-divide\/updates-billionaire-pandemic\/\u0022\u003Enoted Collins\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cIf he was still married to his ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, together they would be worth another $60 billion or so\u2014giving the couple a net worth of a quarter trillion dollars.\u201d\t\t\u003Caside class=\u0022left indent indents current-issue\u0022 data-nosnippet\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Ch4\u003ECurrent Issue\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022current-blocks\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/issue\/july-26-august-2-2021-issue\/\u0022 class=\u0022no-target-blank\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cover0726.jpg\u0022 alt=\u0022\u0022\/\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/a\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022current-blocks\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/issue\/july-26-august-2-2021-issue\/\u0022 class=\u0022textred-highlighted\u0022\u003EView our current issue\u003C\/a\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022magazine_text\u0022 id=\u0022magazine_text_391440\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022cta magazine_button\u0022 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id=\u0022\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022tweetButton\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\u0022\u0022 class=\u0022\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022socialButtonHighlight\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022clickheresocial\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan id=\u0022\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022emailButton\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\u0022\u0022 class=\u0022\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022socialButtonHighlight\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022clickheresocial\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\\\\\u0022\\\\\\\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EIf you like this article, please give today to help fund \u003Cem\u003EThe Nation\u003C\/em\u003E\u2019s work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0027;\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmagazine_button_text_391440 = \u0027\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022\u003E\u003Cinput type=\u0022button\u0022 class=\u0022btn btn_ffcf0d\u0022 name=\u0022submit_sailthru\u0022 value=\u0022Donate\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0027;\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmagazine_button_url_391440 = \u0027https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/email-signup-module-donate\/\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmagazine_button_bg_color_391440 = \u0027#ffcf0d\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t}else{\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tmagazine_text_391440 = \u0027\u003Cp\u003ESubscribe today and Save up to $129.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0027;\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmagazine_button_text_391440 = \u0027\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022\u003E\u003Cinput type=\u0022button\u0022 class=\u0022btn btn_d41d00\u0022 name=\u0022submit_sailthru\u0022 value=\u0022Subscribe\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0027;\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmagazine_button_url_391440 = \u0027https:\/\/subscribe.thenation.com\/flex\/NA\/key\/G0EECAT\/\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmagazine_button_bg_color_391440 = \u0027#dd3333\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tif( magazine_text_391440 !=\u0027\u0027 ){\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#magazine_text_391440\u0022).html(magazine_text_391440);\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tif( magazine_button_text_391440 !=\u0027\u0027 ){\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#magazine_button_391440\u0022).html(magazine_button_text_391440);\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tif( magazine_button_url_391440 !=\u0027\u0027 ){\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#magazine_button_391440 a\u0022).attr(\u0022href\u0022,magazine_button_url_391440);\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tif( magazine_button_bg_color_391440 !=\u0027\u0027 ){\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#magazine_button_391440 a input\u0022).css(\u0022background\u0022,magazine_button_bg_color_391440);\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\u003C\/script\u003E\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\u003Cp\u003EBezos keeps piling up cash at a jaw-dropping rate.\n\u003Cp\u003EIn early July, after \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/07\/jeff-bezos-wealth-record-211-billion-amazon-pentagon-contract-1234787321\/\u0022\u003Ethe Pentagon canceled\u003C\/a\u003E a cloud-computing contract with Microsoft\u2014clearing the way for Amazon to make a grab for the $10 billion project\u2014Amazon\u2019s stock value jumped 4.7 percent in a single day. Bezos\u2019s wealth spiked $8.4 billion, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2021-07-06\/jeff-bezos-hits-wealth-record-of-211-billion-on-pentagon-deal\u0022\u003Eaccording to \u003Cem\u003EBloomberg\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn one day, Jeff Bezos\u2019 worth increased by $8.4 billion. His average Amazon warehouse worker earned $120 in the same day,\u201d \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/RoKhanna\/status\/1413166742247968773\u0022\u003Eobserved\u003C\/a\u003E Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). \u201cWhat a shame to become the richest person of all time and not empower those that work for you?\u201d\n\u003Cp\u003EAnd what a shame, noted Representative Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), that on more than a few days in recent years, that Amazon warehouse worker paid more in taxes than Bezos.\t\t\u003Caside class=\u0022ad-300\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cdiv align=\u0022center\u0022 id=\u0022thenation_article_indent\u0022 data-freestar-ad=\u0022__336x280 __300x250\u0022 \u003E\n\t\t\t  \u003Cscript data-cfasync=\u0022false\u0022 type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t  freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ \n\t\t\t\t\tplacementName: \u0022thenation_article_indent\u0022, \n\t\t\t\t\tslotId: \u0022thenation_article_indent\u0022,\n\t\t\t\t\ttargeting:{\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_author: [\u0027john-n\u0027],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_articleid: [391440],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_ptype: \u0027article\u0027,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_keyword: [\u0027bernie-san\u0027, \u0027jeff-bezos\u0027, \u0027taxes\u0027],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_subject: [\u0027budgets\u0027, \u0027class\u0027, \u0027congress\u0027, \u0027democrats\u0027, \u0027economics\u0027, \u0027economy\u0027, \u0027government\u0027, \u0027inequality\u0027, \u0027politics\u0027, \u0027republican\u0027],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_pos: \u0027rectangle_4\u0027,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_loc:\u0027atf\u0027\n\t\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \u003C\/script\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\t\n\t\t\u003C\/aside\u003E\n\t\t\n\u003Cp\u003EPocan ran all the numbers and concluded that it is time to \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mobile.twitter.com\/repmarkpocan\/status\/1402250365815427076\u0022\u003ETax the rich\u003C\/a\u003E.\u201d\n\u003Cp\u003EThe congressman is onto something. When so-called \u201cdeficit hawks\u201d question whether the United States can afford to pay for the modest improvements in social welfare that are outlined in the $3.5 trillion budget proposal that President Biden and Senate Budget Committee chair Bernie Sanders advanced last week, the answer is that of course there is enough money to add vision, dental, and hearing care to Medicare. And to guarantee family and medical leave. And to expand home care and community-based services for the elderly and people with disabilities. And to cut prescription drug costs. The same goes for proposals to extend the child tax credit and to provide universal pre-K programs for 3- and 4-year-old children. And to make higher education either free or more affordable for millions of students. And to increase nutrition assistance and funding for affordable housing. And to meet climate goals of 80 percent clean electricity and percent economy-wide carbon emissions by 2030.\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s all doable.\n\u003Cp\u003EThe money is readily available, as Sanders said when he presented the budget plan that not only outlines ambitious spending proposals but that also details the progressive tax policies that will pay for them. \u201cFor a very long time, the American people have seen the very rich getting richer and government developing policies, which allow them to pay, in some cases, not a nickel in federal income taxes,\u201d \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.democrats.senate.gov\/news\/press-releases\/transcript-schumer-sanders-warner-announce-budget-committee-agreement-on-budget-resolution-to-make-biggest-investment-in-the-middle-class-in-decades-address-climate-crisis-and-more\u0022\u003Eexplained\u003C\/a\u003E the senator. \u201cThey\u2019ve seen corporations make huge profits\u2014in some cases, they\u2019re not paying a nickel in taxes. And what this legislation says, among many, many other things, is that those days are gone.\u201d\n\u003Cp\u003EOf course, deficit hawks will whine. But former US secretary of labor Robert Reich, a noted economist, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/RBReich\/status\/1415379980507172866\u0022\u003Esays\u003C\/a\u003E, \u201cDon\u2019t listen to Republicans claiming we can\u2019t afford to pass this reconciliation package. Jeff Bezos added $8 billion to his wealth in a single day last week. If we actually tax the billionaires, we can give the American people what they need and deserve.\u201d\n\u003Cp\u003EThat could require Bezos to curtail some of his extraterrestrial activities.\n\u003Cp\u003EBut it will allow the rest of us to make this corner of Planet Earth a little more habitable.\n\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/section\u003E\n\n\u003Csection class=\u0022aside-wrap\u0022\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E\n\u003Cfooter class=\u0022article-footer narrow new-article-footer\u0022 id=\u0022article-footer-391440\u0022 data-nosnippet\u003E\n\n\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022footer-module narrow author-bio\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\n\t\t\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/john-nichols\/\u0022\u003E John Nichols\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EJohn Nichols is a national affairs correspondent for \u003Cem\u003EThe Nation\u003C\/em\u003E and the author of the new book \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.versobooks.com\/books\/3082-the-fight-for-the-soul-of-the-democratic-party\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Fight for the Soul of the Democratic Party: The Enduring Legacy of Henry Wallace\u0027s Anti-Fascist, Anti-Racist Politics\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (Verso). He\u2019s also the author of \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.hachettebookgroup.com\/titles\/john-nichols\/horsemen-of-the-trumpocalypse\/9781568587790\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EHorsemen of the Trumpocalypse: A Field Guide to the Most Dangerous People in America\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, from Nation Books, and co-author, with Robert W. McChesney, of \u003Cem\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/People-Get-Ready-Citizenless-Democracy\/dp\/1568585217\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022\u003EPeople Get Ready: The Fight Against a Jobless Economy and a Citizenless Democracy\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\t\t\n\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022footer-module narrow contact-us\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cp\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTo submit a correction for our consideration, click \u003Ca target=\u0022_blank\u0022 href=\u0022\/corrections?title=I%E2%80%99m+Fine+With+Sending+Jeff+Bezos+Into+Space%2C+As+Long+as+He+Pays+His+Taxes+Here+on+Earth&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenation.com%2Farticle%2Feconomy%2Fjeff-bezos-space-taxes%2F\u0022\u003Ehere.\u003C\/a\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/p\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cp\u003EFor Reprints and Permissions, click \u003Ca target=\u0022_blank\u0022 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this account\u0022 class=\u0022logout_status\u0022\u003ELog out?\u003C\/a\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003C\/p\u003E\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\u0022comment-form-comment\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003Clabel for=\u0022comment\u0022\u003EComment\u003C\/label\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003Ctextarea id=\u0022comment\u0022 name=\u0022comment\u0022 cols=\u002245\u0022 rows=\u00228\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022form-allowed-tags\u0022 aria-required=\u0022true\u0022 required=\u0022required\u0022\u003E\u003C\/textarea\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003C\/p\u003E\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\u0022form-submit\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003Cinput name=\u0022submit\u0022 type=\u0022submit\u0022 id=\u0022submit\u0022 class=\u0022submit\u0022 value=\u0022Post Comment\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003Cinput type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022comment_post_ID\u0022 value=\u0022391440\u0022 id=\u0022comment_post_ID\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003Cinput type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022comment_parent\u0022 id=\u0022comment_parent\u0022 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