Local residents came to hear about the rich exploiting the poor through taxation and other means, including some interested in a minimum-wage increase. Others attending a meeting hosted by Patriotic Millionaires just seemed curious.
“I hope to have an open mind with things,” Lenise Lynch of Mount Airy said upon arriving for Tuesday night’s event at Old North State Winery downtown, which had been billed as a “How to Rig an Economy” presentation.
Lynch, the general manager of Hampton Inn on Rockford Street, who also is heavily involved with business-related organizations such as the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, was anticipating “a great learning experience.”
Patriotic Millionaires then proceeded to try to fulfill such expectations through the local gathering. It was scheduled as part of a grassroots movement called the Great Economy Project, which the Washington, D.C.-based organization launched in 2022.
The project is aimed at inspiring working people — America’s most powerful constituency group — to demand an economy that puts more money into their pockets and gives families a chance to thrive regardless of what political party holds sway.
Mount Airy was chosen for the program for reasons including being representative of towns suffering from low wages, industry closings and other economic upheaval over the years where Patriotic Millionaires seeks to stir up support.
Rather than going through Congress to seek meaningful changes — which has failed due to legislators being influenced by campaign-contribution laws that breed corruption organizers believe — project leaders chose a different route.
“We wanted to take it directly to the people,” says Erica Payne, the president of Patriotic Millionaires, who founded that organization in 2010. It is a non-partisan entity with members who have either a $1 million annual income or $5 million-plus in assets.
Economic reform is one of their goals.
Everything up but salaries
A mass advertising campaign, including colorful promotional materials mailed to local households, had announced Tuesday night’s gathering.
It was the first of four being held at the winery this month and in April, with Tuesday night’s speakers including Payne and three others associated with the movement, Pierre Hollis, Stephen Prince and John Esler.
Payne mentioned earlier Tuesday that 95 people had indicated their intentions to attend the first session through an RSVP process.
“This is the place to be tonight,” said Joe Zalescik, a former member of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners who was among those taking in the meeting that included a complimentary dinner.
Everyone attending also received a free copy of a book, “Tax the Rich: How Lies, Loopholes and Lobbyists Make the Rich Even Richer,” authored by Payne and the chairman of the Patriotic Millionaires board.
“Just interested in the economy,” was Zalescik’s reason for being there, specifically taxation.
“I’m getting hit with a lot of taxes this year,” he explained, which stems from the death of his mother and the impact of often-unpopular capital gains taxes that affect inherited property or assets.
Randy Moore, meanwhile, a member of the Mount Airy Board of Education, was drawn to Tuesday’s night’s meeting by the “catchy postcard” he had received announcing the program.
Moore said he also wants more accountability regarding taxpayer funds that are spent, including for public schools.
Lynch, the Hampton Inn official and chamber/Rotary member, came to the meeting at the urging of a friend, Dawn Wallace. In discussing what she hoped to take away from the meeting, Lynch said, “I’m not really sure.”
However, the issue of a higher minimum wage, from the present $7.25 per hour, did strike a supportive chord with Lynch.
“Because everything’s going up except salaries,” she said of recent inflationary conditions.
“That is definitely an interest of mine,” Lynch said of a minimum-wage hike. “I want everybody to be able to feed their family.”
Looking ahead
Payne believes Patriotic Millionaires’ goals in hosting Tuesday night’s meeting were met through those attending.
“We were thrilled with the group — such a wide range of viewpoints from all parts of the political spectrum, which is exactly what we were hoping for,” she commented afterward.
“Our goal is to see if we can catalyze a cross-partisan movement to fix the economy,” Payne added Wednesday. “And after last night’s session, we are off to a great start.”
The ultimate objective is galvanizing local residents to demand change from federal and state lawmakers representing them.
Some local citizens expressed concerns Tuesday night about the economy, much of this centering on the difficulty in making ends meet despite working hard.
“As we find often in these presentations, people were surprised by what they learned,” according to Payne.
“It’s pretty shocking when you see how, over the last 50 years, both parties have lowered taxes on the richest Americans and failed to fortify the wage floor (the minimum wage), with the result being a grossly unequal society that is on the verge of a total meltdown.”
With everyone appearing to be engaged in the material, Payne is “certain” most of Tuesday night’s participants will attend the next Great Economy Project session here.
The complete schedule includes:
• On March 26, a program entitled “They Ain’t Worth That Much: CEO Pay in America”;
• April 16 — “Why Working People Pay Higher Taxes Than Billionaires”;
• April 23 — “Wages, Wages, Wages.”
Each session will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Old North State Winery and include a complimentary dinner.
Those interested in attending can RSVP at GreatEconomyProject.com or send an email to gep@patrioticmillionaires.org
This also can be accomplished by calling/texting 336-223-4843, with more information additionally available through those outlets.
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