Hillary Clinton CGI Speech Calls For Higher Taxes For Rich People

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered a strongly-worded message to the rich at the Clinton Global Initiative Monday –- help grow your countries.

The former first lady addressed an audience of leaders in the philanthropy, business and politics sectors on day two of CGI, a three-day conference that aims to tackle the world’s most pressing problems. In keeping with this year’s theme of “Designing for Impact,” an effort to alleviate global poverty and health issues, Clinton urged struggling countries to tax equitably and to lean on the wealthy.

"One of the issues I have been preaching about around the world is collecting taxes in an equitable manner, especially from the elites in every country," Clinton said. “It is a fact that around the world the elites of every country are making money. There are rich people everywhere, and yet they do not contribute to the growth of their own countries.”

In addition to calling on the affluent, the Secretary of State encouraged moving away from providing aid and into the realm of long-term investments.

In the past, “people needed food, wells and schools to develop. Today, with so many other resources, developmental assistance should play a different role,” she said. “We’re not only providing aid to people in crisis, we are making strategic investments.”

Clinton praised an initiative in Haiti that brought sewing machines to Caracol, the impoverished country’s new industrial park, so that the 800 employees of one of Korea’s largest garment manufacturers could get to work. Most of those workers are women, she said, and most have never held formal employment before.

While public-private partnerships are key to creating jobs, fostering the fundamental building blocks of struggling countries is a responsibility the wealthy need to take on, Clinton said.

“They don't invest in public schools and public hospitals and other kinds of development internally,” Clinton said of the elite. “So, it means for leaders telling powerful people things they don't want to hear. It means being transparent about budgets and revenues and bringing corruption to light.”

The Secretary of State gave her take on how to improve the global economy following her husband’s remarks. President Bill Clinton shared a number of potential solutions, including calling on Wal-Mart to create jobs in Libya and other troubled countries. This year's speakers will also include President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who will offer ways to see through CGI’s purpose of creating a “future worth pursuing."

“We must think and act innovatively and be willing to change ourselves,” Hillary Clinton said. “We must stay true to our values, otherwise we will lose our way.”

Click through the slideshow below to see photos from the Clinton Global Initiative.

SLIDESHOW:

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• World Leaders In Politics, Finance Gather For Clinton Global Initiative

  NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 23: Linda Tischler (L), Senior Editor of Fast Company Magazine and Tim Brown, Chief Executive Officer of IDEO speak before the session 'Designing for Impact' at the Clinton Global Initiative September 23, 2012 New York City. Timed to coincide with the United Nations General Assembly, CGI brings together heads of state, CEOs, philanthropists and others to help find solutions to the world's major problems. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

• Bill Clinton,

  Former U.S. President Bill Clinton speaks as he opens the Clinton Global Initiative, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

• Queen Rania, Ban Ki-Moon Jim Yong Kim

  Queen Rania Al Abdullah, left, and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, center, listen to Jim Yong Kim, right, president of the World Bank, at the Clinton Global Initiative, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

• World Leaders In Politics, Finance Gather For Clinton Global Initiative

  NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 23: Robert McDonald, Chairman, President and CEO of Procter & Gamble attends during the session 'Designing for Impact' at the Clinton Global Initiative September 23, 2012 New York City. Timed to coincide with the United Nations General Assembly, CGI brings together heads of state, CEOs, philanthropists and others to help find solutions to the world's major problems. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

• Bill Clinton, Tim Shriver, Loretta Claiborne, Dustin Plunkett Deon Namiseb

  Former U.S. President Bill Clinton hugs Special Olympics athlete Loretta Claiborne after she addressed the opening session of the Clinton Global Initiative, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in New York. From left are athletes Dustin Plunkett and Deon Namiseb. Tim Shriver, CEO of the Special Olympics, is at right. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

• Bill Clinton,

  Former U.S. President Bill Clinton listens during the Clinton Global Initiative, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in New York. Participants, consisting of more than 50 current or former heads of state, will attend three days of sessions aimed at solving pressing world problems. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

• World Leaders In Politics, Finance Gather For Clinton Global Initiative

  NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 23: Tim Brown, Chief Executive Officer of IDEO speaks before the session 'Designing for Impact' at the Clinton Global Initiative September 23, 2012 New York City. Timed to coincide with the United Nations General Assembly, CGI brings together heads of state, CEOs, philanthropists and others to help find solutions to the world's major problems. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

• World Leaders In Politics, Finance Gather For Clinton Global Initiative

  NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 23: Linda Tischler, Senior Editor of Fast Company Magazine speaks before the session 'Designing for Impact' at the Clinton Global Initiative September 23, 2012 New York City. Timed to coincide with the United Nations General Assembly, CGI brings together heads of state, CEOs, philanthropists and others to help find solutions to the world's major problems. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

• Chelsea Clinton

  Chelsea Clinton listens to her father, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, speak during the Clinton Global Initiative, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

• Bill Clinton, Ban Ki-Moon Jim Yong Kim

  Ban Ki-Moon, left, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Jim Yong Kim, center, President of the World Bank, listen to former U.S. President Bill Clinton during a panel discussion at the Clinton Global Initiative, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

• Bill Clinton, Ban Ki-Moon Jim Yong Kim

  United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, left, shakes hands with former U.S. President Bill Clinton after they participated in a panel discussion with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, center, at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

• World Leaders In Politics, Finance Gather For Clinton Global Initiative

  NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 23: Don Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, listens to speakers during the session 'Designing for Impact' at the Clinton Global Initiative September 23, 2012 New York City. Timed to coincide with the United Nations General Assembly, CGI brings together heads of state, CEOs, philanthropists and others to help find solutions to the world's major problems. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

Comments

[southernbelle10]

07:14 AM on 09/30/2012

I think it's a great idea to give advice to countries around the world if they want us to. Sewing machines sound like a good thing to improve the lives of some women who would want to learn a skill and improve their quality of life. Otherwise it seems presumptious for us to meddle in their affairs, just like most Americans will not be happy if it comes to us living and using our money the way they do in their countries. We should not force our beliefs and spend our taxpayer money trying to make others live like we do unless they are receptive to our efforts. Again, Mr. Romney intended his "middle class" remark to point out the fact that while some small business owners may make $200,000-250,000 in a year, they use their income to pay salaries, insurance, upkeep on their buildings, utility vehicles, etc. They are not "millionaires" as liberals would quickly label them; they still rank as members of the middle class trying to get along and do the best they can for their families, customers and employees while growing a successful business. There is an obvious oncome gap between the income of these small business owners and that of Kardashians, professional football players, George Clooney, Nancy Pelosi, Donald Trump, or George Soros.

[tarheelpirate]

12:12 AM on 09/29/2012

Let's see -- Clinton GLOBAL inititive. Figures. Just to think most of the Liberals on here want this Bagel Head for president.

[Mo Townsend]

07:13 PM on 09/26/2012

Perhaps with whatever hundreds of millions Romney has in his Caymon Island and Swiss accts, he can most likely eradicate poverty in several impoverish countries. Love you Hilary!

[224466big]

04:37 PM on 09/28/2012

To bad Hillary and Bill don't give a little more of their stash! More of the rich libs talking it up! Obama has made over ten million in the last couple years on investments! Not a single person asking him to give it up. If he really wanted to pay more all he has to do is write a check to the IRS but he will not its all talk. Same for the Clintons. Maybe all the whiners should have worked harder, and not partied so much! Romney gives away lots of his money to those who need it without any fan fair. Like the thousands of quarts of milk to veterans hospital for years straight with out saying a word or asking for praise.

[skeakins]

11:39 PM on 09/28/2012

Romney is a good man and a true American patriot. Hillary Clinton has served her country, but she is a radical progressive who supports a Socialistic Society. Hillary and Bill Clinton are worth more than Mitt Romney...how much did they contribute to charities last year? Mitt gave $4 million. Where do the Clintons keep their money? Ha! In overseas accounts.

[sushi27]

03:09 PM on 09/29/2012

Romney gave that to charity this year cause HE'S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, duh. Let's see the prior 10 years like everyone else!! Oh, that's right, he want's us to trust him, yeah right. The year before his charity giving was just to his beloved mormon church (tithing), so yeah, not buying his blatant attempt to seem benevolent.

[bullwinkler]

05:27 PM on 09/26/2012

Looking at the comments it appears there must be a lot of rich people commenting on HP.

[clarissa49]

03:23 PM on 09/26/2012

Does she include her and Bill along with their cronies!?

[Kathryn Douglas]

01:05 PM on 09/26/2012

This is a sledgehammer of a statement--maybe that's why the would-be parsers are confused. She is speaking like a statesman, not a politician--no interpretation required. How refreshing. I marvel at her willingness to drive a sentence so succinctly into the heart of the matter. One more sentence: Elites, pay your fair share!
#Hillary2016

[skeakins]

11:43 PM on 09/28/2012

The wealthy are not elitists...they are simply Americans who used our free markets and free enterprise capitalist system to become successful. You can do the same thing.

Hillary Clinton is too radically progressive. Oh, and why haven't the Clintons doanated $4-5 million to charities? They are worth more than Mitt Romney.

[Andrew Kimbel]

12:47 AM on 09/26/2012

Screw other countries, what about jobs here in America?

[KrautMan]

08:59 AM on 09/26/2012

Last time I checked 'every country' includes the U.S.. too.

[Mo Townsend]

07:10 PM on 09/26/2012

With comments like yours, no wonder you have no friends or fans on this blog.

[tarheelpirate]

12:24 AM on 09/29/2012

He does now!

[yunchi24]

12:27 AM on 09/26/2012

The rich people are frothing at the mouth at Hillary's speech, the truth does that. See you in 2016 Hillary. You got my vote.

[tarheelpirate]

12:25 AM on 09/29/2012

I am one of the 47% and what she has to say is garbage, period.

[Bil Danielson]

10:50 PM on 09/25/2012

Notice Mrs Clinton speaks with zero specificity by saying, "There are rich people everywhere, and yet they do not contribute to the growth of their own countries.” So, Mrs Clinton, what constitutes a rich person, where exactly is "everywhere," what do you mean by "growth," and please tell us all how one becomes rich by not engaging in commerce within their own country?

One only can guess at the code here, but let me take a stab at deciphering and analyzing it. The rich are anyone with a job that earns more than someone else, everywhere is simply another floating abstraction for which she is famous for uttering, growth clearly means increases the size and scope of individual rights-limiting governments, and lastly it is utterly insane to suggest that a person who has accumulated some degree of wealth has not already benefited those whom he or she traded with to obtain that wealth (unless the wealth was obtain illegally). In the vast majority of cases goods were produced and sold, services rendered - aka growing an economy that requires employees and financial transactions aplenty. Not sure what planet Mrs Clinton has been globe trotting at U.S. taxpayer expense, but it's clearly not the one premised upon individual rights, liberty, and freedom.

[KrautMan]

09:06 AM on 09/26/2012

Actually one doesn't have to "guess at the code here", since the terms you are asking for are sufficiently well defined for the discussion. Let me help you out:

rich |riCH| adjective
having a great deal of money or assets; wealthy: (as plural noun the rich)

everywhere |ˈevrēˌ(h)wer| adverb
in or to all places:
noun
all places or directions:

growth |grōTH| noun
the act or process, or a manner of growing; development; gradual increase.

There you go.

[224466big]

04:46 PM on 09/28/2012

There are more rich Democrats then Republicans. The rich Democrats on average give less to charity then the rich Republicans.

[skeakins]

11:45 PM on 09/28/2012

Fanned and Faved. Excellent post!!

[TT87]

10:38 PM on 09/25/2012

Hillary is aging like a jar of mayonnaise. She needs to be sent to some far away outpost.

[wishstar50]

09:02 PM on 09/25/2012

Create jobs in troubled countries through taxation of our citizens? I thought we were a troubled country when it came to jobs ourselves.

[KrautMan]

09:06 AM on 09/26/2012

Reading comprehension F-

[skeakins]

11:49 PM on 09/28/2012

The Clintons have become extremely wealthy, thanks to the American taxpayer. They are worth more than Romney. Hillary is a radical progressive.

It's because of Bill Clinton that we were attacked on 9/11...after he slashed our military and ground intel to shreds. Bill Clinton promoted sub-prime mortgages, ultimately leading to a crisis and TARP bailout. Bill Clinton was impeached for lying to Congress and the American people.

[spongeworthy06]

06:16 PM on 09/25/2012

Bill Clinton knew full well what lowering capital gains tax does for an economy, but at election time we are to believe Romney should pay more than what is required

[224466big]

04:50 PM on 09/28/2012

Romney gives of his wealth to charity without being asked and looks for nothing in return. I think it about 30% a year.He is a good man!

[spongeworthy06]

05:07 PM on 09/28/2012

I think he is too

[skeakins]

11:50 PM on 09/28/2012

Yes, he is a good man...and a very bright manager.

[patrick blasz]

04:12 PM on 09/25/2012

She is wrong about the cause of the attack in Bhenghazi on our consulate and the murder of our ambassador; and she's equally wrong in her assertion that rich people ". . . do not contribute to the growth of their own countries.” This administration can't be replaced too soon.

[patrick blasz]

04:06 PM on 09/25/2012

Where did this woman go to school? Apparently, she never studied economics. Doesn't understand that rich people do not stuff their mattresses with money.

[bullwinkler]

05:26 PM on 09/26/2012

No they send it to the Cayman's or Switzerland.

[patrick blasz]

06:47 PM on 09/26/2012

Historically, they did not. They built this country. Don't forget that my friend. 

[tarheelpirate]

12:29 AM on 09/29/2012

That's right, the Clinton's have their money in off shore accounts!

[Moderate Independent]

03:53 PM on 09/25/2012

Even the New York Times agrees that the amount of revenue gained from shams like the "Buffet rule" would not be enough to cover the outrageous spending in Washington, nor will it put a dent in the deficit. This is all class warfare political theatre designed to divide Americans led by Obama and Hillary.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/24/your-money/taxes/buffett-rule-is-more-complicated-than-politics-suggest.html?_r=1

[224466big]

04:58 PM on 09/28/2012

Buffet there is another Democrat who would pay more in taxes he says, but owes over a million in taxes and is fight the IRS for years now. Go figure!!!

[skeakins]

11:53 PM on 09/28/2012

Moderate Independent: Fanned and Faved. Thanks for a good post.

[southernbelle10]

07:49 AM on 09/30/2012

I was so surprised to read some of the above group of comments stating a different pont of view from those usually found on this site. Good posts, guys and gals.