The fiscal problems of the United States are largely due to the fact that Wall Street pays no taxes. While working families pay 7% or more in sales tax for the necessities of life, Wall Street speculators pay no tax on their share of a yearly turnover of over $5 quadrillion (5,000 trillion dollars) in stocks, bonds and derivatives. A 1% tax on this turnover, equally divided between the federal and state governments, largely solves the budget deficit at all levels of government. It also discourages the most dangerous forms of speculation, especially derivatives speculation, and helps to level the playing field between financial services – which are now in effect subsidized because they are not taxed – and the tangible, physical production of manufactured goods on which our economic survival depends.

A small federal tax on securities transfer was in effect until the Johnson administration. In New York State, a small transfer tax remains on the books, but the $20 to $30 billion yearly proceeds are being remitted to the zombie banks as a result of successful Wall Street extortion. A Wall Street Sales Tax has been endorsed by a growing number of public figures, economists, journalists and legislators, with several bills already having been introduced into the US Congress.

In May, 2014, 11 member states of the European Union, including Germany and France, agreed to implement the European Union financial transaction tax (EU FTT), which is estimated to charge 0.1% on the sale of stocks and bonds, and 0.01% on derivatives. Opposition to this tax has been centered in Wall Street and London.