Jon Miller Urges Higher Taxes on Rich, Citing 37% Top Rate and Wider U.S. Inequality
Updated
Updated · NOLA.com · Jun 20
Jon Miller Urges Higher Taxes on Rich, Citing 37% Top Rate and Wider U.S. Inequality
3 articles · Updated · NOLA.com · Jun 20
Summary
Jon Miller, writing from New Orleans, called on elected officials to raise taxes on wealthy Americans and corporations to curb widening U.S. wealth inequality and help reduce the federal debt.
37% is today’s top federal income tax rate, Miller said, down from 70% in 1965, while the top corporate rate stands at 21% versus more than 52% in the 1960s.
Millions of working families still struggle with housing, healthcare, childcare and college costs, he argued, even as the richest Americans and large corporations benefit from tax loopholes and accumulate wealth rapidly.
Miller said the widening gap weakens democracy and social trust, and he urged policies that strengthen the middle class through fair taxation, better wages and broader access to healthcare and education.
Can America raise taxes on its wealthiest citizens without driving investment and innovation to other countries?
Beyond taxes, what overlooked factors like long-term care costs are silently widening the American wealth gap?
U.S. Wealth Inequality 2026: Tax System Trends, Billionaire Growth, and Policy Solutions
Overview
Wealth inequality in the United States has reached extreme levels by 2026, with wealth increasingly concentrated at the very top. Over decades, significant changes in the U.S. tax system—including sharp reductions in top income and corporate tax rates—have contributed to this trend. These disparities undermine social trust and weaken democratic institutions, as the tax structure has become less progressive compared to the past. The ongoing accumulation of wealth among the richest Americans highlights the need for policy reforms to address the challenges posed by such concentrated economic power and its impact on society.