# Democrats' Seven Ways to Fight Oligarchs > Democrats propose seven policies to curb oligarchic wealth and boost ordinary Americans amid Trump's veto threats. - Title: Democrats' Seven Ways to Fight Oligarchs · Mother Jones - Summary: Democrats propose seven policies to curb oligarchic wealth and boost ordinary Americans amid Trump's veto threats. - Keywords: democrats, oligarchs, wealth inequality, tax policy, healthcare reform, military spending, congressional budget, medicare for all, consumer protection, tariffs, income tax, social security - Source: Mother Jones — https://motherjones.com/politics/2026/11/how-democrats-address-affordability-wealth-income-inequality-oligarchy-costs-solutions-trump-veto - Author: Michael Mechanic - Published: 2026-11-13T07:30:00+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: democrats, oligarchs, wealth inequality, tax policy, healthcare reform, military spending, congressional budget, medicare for all, consumer protection, tariffs, income tax, social security ## Stop funding the war Congress could end the Iran war to save tens of billions and pressure Trump to stop military spending hikes. > Trump stubbornly refuses to accept that the world needs to wean itself off its oil addiction ## Roll back Trump’s tariffs Congress may limit Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico to protect trade relationships and reduce consumer costs. > The tariffs on Canada have badly damaged the US relationship with one of our best allies ## Stop taxing low incomes A tax cut for low and moderate earners would benefit middle-class households while targeting high-income tax surcharges. > A single filer would pay zero tax on their first $46,000 in earnings ## Restore subsidies Restoring Medicaid, SNAP, and Obamacare subsidies would help low-income families and reduce healthcare costs. > The next year, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, lawmakers temporarily extended subsidies to middle-income households ## Equal Tax Act The Equal Tax Act targets investment gains for the wealthy while protecting small businesses and family farms. > The Equal Tax Act applies the 37 percent wage rate to any investment earnings in excess of $1 million ## Restore CFPB Reviving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau would protect consumers from predatory financial practices and corporate abuse. > By June 2025, DOGE had effectively shuttered an agency which returned over $26 billion to the American people ## Medicare for All Passing Medicare for All would reduce healthcare costs and save 114,000 lives annually by replacing for-profit insurance. > Replacing commercial insurers with an expanded Medicare system would reduce US healthcare expenditures by more than $1 trillion per year ## Cap retirement tax breaks Limiting tax breaks for retirement accounts would redirect savings to Social Security and reduce wealth inequality. > Over the next decade, the government will expend $5 trillion on tax breaks to help Americans save for retirement ## Tax unrealized gains Taxing unrealized investment gains would target oligarchic wealth without triggering Supreme Court challenges. > The untaxed growth of unsold investments is the foundation of the soaring oligarchic wealth ## Neuter GRATS Ending grantor retained annuity trusts would prevent wealthy families from transferring assets tax-free to heirs. > Congress blew it by passing legislation that enabled these trusts and has yet to undo its mistake ## Key takeaway Democrats could pass seven laws to reduce wealth inequality and help middle-class Americans by targeting tax breaks, healthcare, and military spending.