You say you make the philosophical case. I read the essay. There is no philosophy in it. There is arithmetic, and there is need.
The one premise doing all the work is never argued: that one man's need constitutes a claim on another man's property. It doesn't. Need is not a mortgage on the life of the man who fulfilled his.
You say the tax "asks" billionaires for 5%. A tax does not ask. If it asked, it would be philanthropy. It compels โ and your entire moral posture depends on the reader not noticing the difference.
You call it a "social contract." A contract requires consent. A decree written by Congress and imposed on 938 people who never signed it is not a contract. It is force wearing a contract's clothes.
And your proudest boast is your most damning admission: Newsom taxes transactions โ you tax OWNERSHIP itself. Stock never sold. Value never realized. Not "we tax what you do," but "we tax what you are."
You welcomed an argument on the merits. Here it is: a man's success is not a public asset, and no number of people needing his property converts it into theirs.
That is the moral test of our time. You are failing it.
You say you make the philosophical case. I read the essay. There is no philosophy in it. There is arithmetic, and there is need.
The one premise doing all the work is never argued: that one man's need constitutes a claim on another man's property. It doesn't. Need is not a mortgage on the life of the man who fulfilled his.
You say the tax "asks" billionaires for 5%. A tax does not ask. If it asked, it would be philanthropy. It compels โ and your entire moral posture depends on the reader not noticing the difference.
You call it a "social contract." A contract requires consent. A decree written by Congress and imposed on 938 people who never signed it is not a contract. It is force wearing a contract's clothes.
And your proudest boast is your most damning admission: Newsom taxes transactions โ you tax OWNERSHIP itself. Stock never sold. Value never realized. Not "we tax what you do," but "we tax what you are."
You welcomed an argument on the merits. Here it is: a man's success is not a public asset, and no number of people needing his property converts it into theirs.
That is the moral test of our time. You are failing it.
Yesterday, we received a delegation from MTN Nigeria, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Karl Toriola, as we formalized a groundbreaking strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The partnership, proposed during the early days of our administration in 2023, is a major step toward establishing Abia State as a leading digitally-enabled economy in Nigeria. By leveraging technology, we aim to enhance efficient governance, youth empowerment, and socio-economic growth across the state. We reaffirmed our commitment to providing all necessary support to ensure the initiative becomes a resounding success.
Key highlights of the collaboration included:
* Statewide 3G broadband access to connect every Abian at the minimum.
* Dedicated cloud computing services for enhanced government efficiency.
* A digital marketplace for merchants in Aba, Umuahia, Ohafia, and other commercial hubs.
* Device ownership schemes for civil servants, providing access to essential digital tools.
* 4G and 5G network expansion across principal cities, ensuring fast and reliable connectivity.
Additionally, the MTN Nigeria team introduced the Aba-brand e-commerce platform, a fully-funded initiative to empower our local businesses by providing them access to global markets at no cost to them.
I sincerely appreciate MTN Nigeria for partnering with Abia State in this forward-thinking initiative. The partnership paves the way for a robust digital economy, shaping a future of endless possibilities for our people.