Jeff Atwood2d ago
Please do check my work on this, and cite what you have.. but from what I am seeing in the data, if we simply collected a fair tax from billionaires we could literally eliminate all poverty in this entire country at the 100% FPL level.
Show threadRich Stein (he/him)
@codinghorror
Lots of policy issues there, nor have I checked the numbers — but you could stop with the first portion of you thought, "... if we simply collected a fair tax from billionaires..." and we'd — U.S. society — all be better off. Many great ways to use the additional tax revenue collected, all with positive societal benefits.
Mar 27 at 1:33pmMoshidon
Show threadJeff Atwood19h ago
@RunRichRun I think eliminating poverty is one of the most immediate and pressing needs other than basic universal health care. Can you really justify anything else at the base of the pyramid?
Show threadRich Stein (he/him)8h ago

@codinghorror
👍 to eliminating poverty & providing universal health care. I think there are many intersecting issues — mental health care, housing, childcare...

If you want a great, unorthodox read that considers those connections, see "Instructions to the Cook," by Bernie Glassman — aerospace engineer turned Zen monk & clown, who invested heavily in people (the bakery he created employs the homeless & sources brownies for Ben & Jerry's).

As they say, it's complicated.
https://www.lionsroar.com/zen-is-all-of-life-remembering-roshi-bernie-glassman/

Zen Is All of Life: Remembering Roshi Bernie Glassman

Bernie Glassman broke open our idea of what Buddhism could be. He fed the hungry, cared for the sick, and bore witness to the world’s pain.

Lion’s Roar
Show threadRich Stein (he/him)7h ago
@codinghorror
I should add that they're no longer homeless once they connect with Greyston.
Show threadJeff Atwood13m ago
@RunRichRun "if we do not stop to help each other, what do we become?"