Bold Politics with Zack Polanski Why The Rich Get Richer | Faiza Shaheen | Zack Polanski
Feb 18, 2026
Faiza Shaheen, economist and director of Tax Justice UK who researches inequality and wealth taxes. She discusses rethinking wealth taxes, fixing council tax and taxing asset hoarding. Conversations cover how inequality fuels the far right, the power of local grassroots organising, and concerns about asset managers and elite lobbying.
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Monthly Community Meetings Build Power
- Faiza built monthly community meetings connecting local issues to national politics.
- She describes them as her favourite night, full of love and practical grassroots organising.
Build Grassroots Infrastructure First
- Invest time in local organising; grassroots structures take years to build and sustain movements.
- Support candidates from strong community networks rather than expecting leadership alone to mobilise people.
Prepared Networks Amplify Campaigns
- While living in New York, Faiza saw ready activist networks from decades of community organising.
- She contrasts that preparedness with starting activism from scratch after a high-profile campaign arrives.