Just another drop in the bucket
The evidence is overwhelming that the developed world is responsible for major portions of the human-induced climate and ecological devastation occurring in the world.
Suggestion:
Immediate substantial cut by at least 50% in the use of fossil fuels AND massive reparations. This will require developed nations footing all the bill for these changes.
Two major demographics deserve significant redress for centuries of atrocities: the descendants of the First Peoples to the hemisphere and the descendants of slaves brought here without consent. Subsequent immigrants should have acknowledged this. Instead, many have over the years disregarded the rights of these people and unjustly and even cruelly treated them.
For those who ask “Why should I pay. I didn’t do anything to harm these people,” I say we are all continuing to benefit from the suffering and burdens imposed on these innocent people.
Suggestion:
To partially make up for these egregious transgressions, I suggest the equivalent of a one-time levy of 5% of the net worth for each household in the country. There are over 128,000,000 households less the approximately 18 million households that are descendants of the First Peoples and of slaves. The total national net household worth is over $100 trillion. Accordingly, example one-time levies would be $37,000 for a household of $750,000 net worth, $500 for a household of $10,000 net worth, and $5 billion for a household of $100 Billion net worth (no shirking for the rich). This would come to about $100,000 per descendant.
Of course, $100,000 does not make up for all the suffering imposed on the descendants of the First Peoples and of slaves. Rather, it should approach the scale some have proposed–a minimum of $1.5 million per descendant for these genocides. I believe, however, the amount I am suggesting is more politically and practically realizable.
The payment could be divvied up in different ways and/or staggered a bit but not too long. Some portion of payment could be translated into improved education, job training, and healthcare. This would help redistribute wealth in the country and also stimulate the economy. (see also Taxes: Wealth Redistribution)
Additional legislative measures should also be applied to guarantee equitable treatment in other economic and social issues.
U.S. Net Worth Statistics: The State of Wealth in 2022
The Black-white wealth gap left Black households more vulnerable
Calculating Reparations: $1.5 Million for Each Slave Descendant in the U.S