Chuck Collins, Senior Scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies, discusses the moral and economic rationale that should drive Congress to finally decide to tax the wealthy. This talk was given as part of a TEDx event at Hampshire College.

What Is TEDx?
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.

Theme: Respecting Our Humanity
What does it mean to respect one’s own or another’s humanity; what does it mean to be human?

In the rapidly evolving, globally intertwined world of the 21st century, we stand on the precipice of an uncertain, unknown future. Fear of change, scarcity, and otherness can cause us to dehumanize each other and focus on polarization at the expense of understanding our common humanity. At the same time, successful leaders will need, more than ever, to foster a shared sense of purpose across seemingly disparate groups in order to initiate meaningful change.

This conference looks at the broad concept of respecting our humanity through the lenses of organizational change, wealth distribution, environmental impact, artistic endeavors, and more, in an effort to spark ideas and challenge our understanding of how we as individuals and as a community can take the issues facing us and turn them into opportunities for growth, change, and a deeper respect and compassion for humanity.