Robin Hoods of the 1%? Meet the Patriotic Millionaires

The haves and have-nots: an age-old division drawn on lines of class and wealth, and one which a non-partisan network of generous tycoons is bidding to tear down.

The Patriotic Millionaires (PM) movement started in the US and has since been established in the UK, where it now counts more than 60 members. They include Gary Stevenson (pictured), the former City trader turned inequality economist.

“We are the canary in the coalmine of a broken system,” says James Perry, a fellow member and the founder of meal delivery firm, Cook.

PM admits the fabled ‘trickle down’ from new wealth creation has failed to materialise and says hoarding by the super-rich 1% – those with assets totalling over £4m – has led to economic, democratic and ecological instability.

Its members’ unlikely solution? “Tax us more.” “We are not suggesting that this wealth is confiscated,” says PM “We are suggesting that a greater per cent of it is contributed to society through tax; that the successes of the economy are shared fairly with working people.”

Main image: Harriet Tubman Award winner and Petro general manager Charles Bernsen receives a hug at the award ceremony from Nikki, the survivor he helped leave her trafficking situation. TAT executive director Esther Goetsch looks on. Photo and caption courtesy of TAT

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