9/17/20151 Jennifer Flynn, Health GAP,
Health GAP is… 9/17/20152 An international AIDS activist organization dedicated to eliminating the barriers to lifesaving HIV treatment for everyone. A strong believer in direct action organizing and strategic policy making. The sponsor of the Student Global AIDS Campaign Began with a series of beautifully choreographed direct actions targeting then VP and Pres. Candidate Al Gore for his role in preventing South Africa from importing generic, affordable medications. NPA is a coalition of grassroots organizing groups NNU is one of the largest unions of professional healthcare workers. Over 150 endorsers are members of the campaign
The Solution We Can All Work on Together-the Solution to Sequestration Gorillas, LGBT community, People living with AIDS, Homeless, Unemployed, Unions, etc. 9/17/20153
What is the Robin Hood Tax? Taxing financial instruments such as: Stocks, Bonds, Foreign Exchange, Derivatives: Futures, Swaps, Options Average rate: 0.05% would generate: up to $400b worldwide-not quite high enough to slow speculative market Rate of.5% would generate up to $350 billion in the U.S. alone In Europe, campaign called for 50% domestic; 50% international: – Jobs+Development/health + climate change – 11 countries have no passed, rate of.1% on stocks In U.S. campaign is asking for higher percentage point to add additional demands: create jobs, provide education, full healthcare. 9/17/20154
History of FTTs Tobin taxes: Originally refer to James Tobin, currently used by the media to mean all financial transaction tax. 1970s: Tobin’s original idea was about taxing currency/forex – 1% in order to REGULATE not generate revenue – Would dramatically cut down on transactions… which Tobin wanted 9/17/20155
Currency – foreign exchange: Currency – foreign exchange: 1973: $4 trillion per year; 1973: $4 trillion per year; mid-80s: $40 trillion per year mid-80s: $40 trillion per year 2004: $500 tr. pa = $1.9 tr. per day 2004: $500 tr. pa = $1.9 tr. per day 2007: $800 tr. pa = $3.2 tr. per day 2007: $800 tr. pa = $3.2 tr. per day 2010: $1,000 tr. pa = $4 trillion per day 2010: $1,000 tr. pa = $4 trillion per day Rate: 0.005% - Intelligence Capital Revenue: $45-50 Billion per year Revenue: $45-50 Billion per year Currency Transaction Levy 9/17/20156
Legislation and Support So Far: The Currency Tax Levy is a subset of this larger tax. Just on currency. Would raise $30 billion if there was a.005% tax on 4 most traded currencies. Congressmember Pete Starks introduced legislation to create a currency transaction levy that would specifically fund the fight against global AIDS and climate change (DeFazio-Harkin bill would fund domestic jobs) DeFezio/Harkin, Rep. Conyers-FTT’s to reduce deficit and create jobs respectively Congressmember Ellison Bill, HR 6411 with a great rate of.5% and talks about AIDS in the findings. Gates, the Pope Emeritus, Sachs, Archbishop of Canterbury, Chris Martin, Anna Wintour, Mark Ruffalo, to name drop a few, have come out in favor 9/17/20157
EuroZone FTT’s 11 countries The U.S. is now the ONLY of the world’s major financial sectors to have tax on financial trading. Residence+issuance-Foreign subsidiaries are included (taxing both buyer and seller). Sweden didn’t do this and failed. Stocks at.1%, derivatives at.001% Estimates for EU wide revenues of 57 bn. Euros 9/17/20158
How Does It Work: Seller asks broker to sell security Buyer wants to buy that security Negotiate on an exchange or through software on price Clearinghouse holds the security, confirms the sale Both parties agree to the terms Buyer sends money to the clearinghouse Clearinghouse releases the security to the buyer VAT? / Sales Tax 9/17/20159
Myth Busting… 9/17/201510
It Needs to Happen Everywhere… FTTs – commonplace: over 25 years FTTs – commonplace: over 25 years introduced permanently or temporarily on stocks, corporate/government bonds, futures, general computerised financial transfers Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK and US Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK and US 9/17/201511
Will it Hurt the Financial Sector? Profit to Financial Sector: – Between the colume of global financial market transactions has swelled from 7xs global GDP to 26xs with an upward trend. $2.9 trillion of daily financial activity in U.S. markets. U.S. govt. is currently operating at its lowest level of revenue in more than 60 yrs. IMF says financial sector of economy is undertaxed (particularly in U.S. 9/17/201512
It WILL Hurt the Financial Market… Volume of financial transactions: 70x the size of “real economy” Tradebots in the US who hold a stock on average for just 11 seconds. Financial experts agree-this is the danger zone of trading. RHT will kill about 50% of (robo) trading Our revenue estimates take this loss into account 9/17/201513
Won’t it reduce pension income? NO! Pensions are a long-term investment. The tax affects short-term investments Rate of the tax is very small. Doesn’t affect invididual investors 9/17/201514
Grassroots Action Thus Far… 9/17/201515
VOCAL-NY on World AIDS Day 9/17/201516
AIDS Activists have been Occupying Wall Street for 25 Years… 9/17/201517
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UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES… Metro Committees! Monday, 4pm, NEDAP DRESSING LIKE ROBIN HOOD IS NEVER A BAD THING GOING NAKED IS NEVER A BAD THING Organize a rally outside your Member of Congress’ office or invite them to a town hall on global AIDS. Now is the time for Congress to keep their promises on AIDS. Meet with your congressmember-very few people actually do this! Ellison bill to be re-introduced, press conference, day of actions in early March MOBILIZE FOR APRIL 20 TH (NO, NOT THAT 4.20) IN DC (G8/G20 FINANCE MINISTERS AND GOVERNORS) FTT messaging at Occupy Everywhere Do any Robin Hood Action! 9/17/201521
It will never happen … THE OCCUPY MOVEMENT HAS OPENED A SPACE FOR US TO FINALLY START TALKING ABOUT AN END TO REPEATED BUDGET CUTS. PUSHING OUR POLITICS MORE TO THE LEFT. FINANCIAL TRANSACTION TAX HAS BEEN PROMOTED BY ADBUSTERS. SUMMERS GONE, GEITNER GONE, LEW ON RECORD SAYING HE IS AGAINST, BUT OBAMA IS FOR. 9/17/201522
Contact Info Jennifer Flynn Managing Director Health GAP Cell Skype: jenniferaliceflynn Headquarters: x 3 ______________________ 9/17/201523