Hundreds of millionaires and biillionares call for more taxes

The Guardian -  Almost 400 millionaires and billionaires from 24 countries are calling on global leaders to increase taxes on the super-rich amid growing concern that the wealthiest in society are buying political influence. An open letter, which was released to coincide with the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, urges world leaders attending this week’s conference to close the widening gap between the super-rich and everyone else.

Signatories include the actor and film-maker Mark Ruffalo, the musician Brian Eno and the film producer and philanthropist Abigail Disney.

• “A handful of global oligarchs with extreme wealth have bought up our democracies; taken over our governments; gagged the freedom of our media; placed a stranglehold on technology and innovation; deepened poverty and social exclusion; and accelerated the breakdown of our planet,” it reads.