Apple is estimated to pay $7B in taxes this year. Why should Apple pay more?
Depends. How much did they earn? And how much did they earn when you take out any financial chicanery? A number on its own is pretty meaningless.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rtamesis
Just another greedy politician.
I don't understand comments like this. Are you suggesting that Levin receives some kind of kick back for criticizing Apple? The norm is for politicians to be called greedy when they cozy up to companies in exchange for campaign contributions and/or personal gifts, so I'm not sure where this partciular ire, which is in quite a different direction, comes from.
I don't understand comments like this. Are you suggesting that Levin receives some kind of kick back for criticizing Apple? The norm is for politicians to be called greedy when they cozy up to companies in exchange for campaign contributions and/or personal gifts, so I'm not sure where this partciular ire, which is in quite a different direction, comes from.
Well, to be fair, people can be greedy for things other than money...power...celebrity...attention...etc.
Not saying that' what the original poster meant. But I don't think it's a spurious claim to suggest that politicians are often greedy even if not necessarily for money.
Another thing for those saying all we need to do is close the loopholes, get a clue. Close the loopholes, but if and only if the rates are lowered to at or below the OECD average. The US currently has the highest corporate rates in the OECD. Getting rid of the expenditures and keeping the rates where they are would be a disaster for our competitiveness and simply encourage more companies to move operations to favorable tax jurisdictions.
"Apple is exploiting an absurdity, one that we have not seen other corporations use," the senator said. "And the absurdity need not continue."
Apple's response should be: "When the absurdity is ended, we will stop exploiting it. Until then, we have a fiduciary responsibility to our shareholders (many of whom are US citizens, pension plans, and retirement funds) to maximize the return on our capital. Have a nice day."
If you find a loophole and it works and is legal, keep using it - and use it to its fullest.
Steve had a low tolerance for stupidity. I would love to hear him testify before this committee. I suspect he'd tell them the problem is of their own making, go *bleep* yourselves until it's fixed. I have work to get back to.
So, stop bitching about Apple, and fix the tax code. The problem is the Govt. not the companies they're trying to vilify. Any company who isn't using every legal means to avoid paying tax isn't acting with due diligence.
You can bet they use every loophole they can.
We need to petition for these waste of time and taxpayer money witch hunts to end. Change the laws, prove one was broken or shut up.
I could not agree more with the comments from Rand Paul. This is a disgusting sideshow, political grandstanding at its worst.
Apple should give him a lot of money for his campaign. If Apple's guilty of anything, it's not getting politically involved to protect human rights and property rights from these scumbags. McCain, such a hypocrite, pretends to be a republican and "anti-tax" then says what he said today.
Also, it's dishonest to call this "Tax avoidance". It's like they're "avoiding" taxes they "owe".... but the reality is, they don't owe taxes to the US government for sales outside the USA.
They're non-taxes. You can't "Avoid" it if you don't owe it in the first place.
This "tax avoidance" talk comes from the presumption we're all slaves and that all of our income is subject to tax.
It's ludicrous--- and ABSURDLY GREEDY-- that these socialist scumbags think they are due a cut for business that happens completely outside the USA. Hell, they're not even due a cut for business within the USA.
Taxes are theft, and the thing about thieves is, they're never satisfied... they always want more and more.
And of course Sen Levin is well versed in the art of Tax Evasion. After all, he has avoided paying any Social Security and Medicare taxes for his whole Senate career. Funny how it is worng for a corporation to want to pay as little taxes as possible but a for politician it is just business as usual. As the old joke goes, be careful not to step in the "umpah" Mister Levin.
I'm curious what changed then. What events or circumstances prompted this "consolidation?" Or was really no different from now in which we have "two" parties that are only superficially and marginally different from one another?
The civil war, reconstruction and the money that goes with it.
:???: Apple built the biggest, best company on earth, in history, and in the US. And we vilify it for no good reason? Not vilified? "It's unacceptable that corporations like Apple are able to exploit tax loopholes to avoid paying billions in taxes," McCain said." Unacceptable why? What alternatives did Apple have? Corporations like Apple? But only Apple on the griddle? Exploit loopholes? Loopholes McCain made? :???:
Apple built the biggest, best company on earth, in history, and in the US. And we vilify it for no good reason?
They did the same thing to Standard Oil a hundred years ago (or so). It's SOP. Someone produces something extremely valuable, makes a boatload of money, then they get attacked in the press and Congress until they are knocked down a notch. It is the American way I guess.
The only thing Apple's at fault for here, is not putting money behind serious political reform in this country.
So Apple should be required to fix the country? Is that before or after they take over and fix the ISPs, cable companies, cell phone services, schools, book publishers, TV nets, movie studios and record labels
Apple hasn't banked on reform for the same reason that they don't support any charities, Jobs felt the company didn't have the right to pick which charities and politics shareholder money should be spent on.
I would quibble with the "we" in your statement. The Democrat from the once great state of Michigan is the one doing the vilifying. We the people recognize that what serves to fill our government coffers is not also the best thing for our economy. We recognize that a lower broader corporate tax rate would not only help our economy, but may actually increase tax receipts.
If you find a loophole and it works and is legal, keep using it - and use it to its fullest.
Steve had a low tolerance for stupidity. I would love to hear him testify before this committee. I suspect he'd tell them the problem is of their own making, go *bleep* yourselves until it's fixed. I have work to get back to.
Let's stop calling it a loophole. This plays into the lie that they are somehow "avoiding" tax. It's not a loophole that the USA can't collect taxes for business outside it's jurisdiction. It's simply the fact that the US Government has no right to a cut of business that occurs overseas.
It's sad that we've been conditioned to think and talk like slaves, and it's by design that they put things this way to try and even make thinking about it rationally impossible. (Like calling people who believe in science "climate warming deniers", which presumes climate warming is a fact they are in "denial" of.) Like the rejection of the science, that makes people incapable of considering scientific reality, politicians propagandize in a way that makes it difficult to recognize just how absurd their claims are.
Apple isn't "Avoiding" taxes, the TAXES DON'T EXIST!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crowley
I don't understand comments like this. Are you suggesting that Levin receives some kind of kick back for criticizing Apple? The norm is for politicians to be called greedy when they cozy up to companies in exchange for campaign contributions and/or personal gifts, so I'm not sure where this partciular ire, which is in quite a different direction, comes from.
It doesn't matter how much Apple earned. It's their money and they are not your slave to exploit.
Politicians don't "cozy up" to companies-- they say "it's a mighty nice business you have here, be a real shame if something were to happen to it.".
Politicians only have the threat of violence- that's all government can do-- and so this shake down racket has been going on a long time. The idea that politicians are cozy with corporations is part of the BS "corporations are too powerful" lie that is spread to keep people from realizing that it is politicians who have destroyed the economy.... and part and parcel to standard socialist propaganda.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MJ1970
I'm curious what changed then. What events or circumstances prompted this "consolidation?" Or was really no different from now in which we have "two" parties that are only superficially and marginally different from one another?
Poltiicians are corrupt in their nature. So they started passing laws that keep third parties off the ballots or give their own party an advantage. These laws are so entrenched now that the idea that America has "fair" elections is absurd. Third parties spend all their time and money trying to get on the ballots and aren't even allowed into the debates.... this makes the elections a sham and a joke.
Like in Iraq when Saddam Hussien won every time--- in America, the one party with two heads wins every time.
Yet again I find myself astounded at the poor quality of an AppleInsider article
Quote:
In opening remarks of a hearing Tuesday morning, the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations accused Apple of being the mastermind of elaborate tax evasion practices that are unique to the iPhone maker.
Now, did he really use the phrase 'tax evasion'? I doubt it, because if he was accusing Apple of tax evasion then this would be a criminal trial and not a senate hearing.
Seriously, if AI believes that the terms 'tax evasion' and 'tax avoidance' can be used interchangeably then they should stick to copying stuff off other sites and leave the real journalism to MacObserver.
So Apple should be required to fix the country? Is that before or after they take over and fix the ISPs, cable companies, cell phone services, schools, book publishers, TV nets, movie studios and record labels
I never said they should be required to do anything. But if you're a business, you owe it to your shareholders to protect the assets of the business. Apple has a lot of money in cash, denominated in dollars. Those dollars are going down in value dramatically becuase of our corrupt political system, which inflates to cover their deficit spending. Apple's ability to hold onto those dollars is weakened by the fact that we have poltiicians in office who don't respect property rights... and we can see here them gleefully lusting after Apple's money, and acting outraged that they can't engorge themselves on it.
Apple owes its survival, in part, to the continued respect of property rights in america, and those rights are being ever eroded.
That's why they need to back political reform... not because I want it, or have any power to "require" them to.
Wow... is this ever turning into a witch hunt. Find one company with big name recognition, crucify them and let the others (who are contributing to your campaigns) off. There's plenty of room for corporate tax reform. This is not the way.
Seriously, if AI believes that terns 'tax evasion' and 'tax avoidance' can be used interchangeably then they should stick to copying stuff off other sites and leave the real journalism to MacObserver.
Unfortunately, the term "Tax Avoidance" is designed specifically to sound like it means the same thing as "Tax Evasion"... the same way they say "automatic rifle" when they mean semi-automatic, or "assault weapon" when they mean "hunting rifle"... it's use of terminology to demonize.
It would be better if AI was more careful, but AI merely slipped into the trap that was laid for everybody who sees this dishonest political terminology.
"We should have brought in here today a giant mirror, so that we can look at the reflection of Congress, because this problem is created by the awful tax code," he [Rand Paul] said."
Whoa!! I can't believe that I have found myself in complete agreement with Rand Paul. Interesting how the idiots (Congress) that make the rules (i.e. the tax code) don't like it when a company plays (and wins!!) by the rules, but still manages to show just how idiotic the rules actually are. I love the irony!
Comments
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogifan
Apple is estimated to pay $7B in taxes this year. Why should Apple pay more?
Depends. How much did they earn? And how much did they earn when you take out any financial chicanery? A number on its own is pretty meaningless.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rtamesis
Just another greedy politician.
I don't understand comments like this. Are you suggesting that Levin receives some kind of kick back for criticizing Apple? The norm is for politicians to be called greedy when they cozy up to companies in exchange for campaign contributions and/or personal gifts, so I'm not sure where this partciular ire, which is in quite a different direction, comes from.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crowley
I don't understand comments like this. Are you suggesting that Levin receives some kind of kick back for criticizing Apple? The norm is for politicians to be called greedy when they cozy up to companies in exchange for campaign contributions and/or personal gifts, so I'm not sure where this partciular ire, which is in quite a different direction, comes from.
Well, to be fair, people can be greedy for things other than money...power...celebrity...attention...etc.
Not saying that' what the original poster meant. But I don't think it's a spurious claim to suggest that politicians are often greedy even if not necessarily for money.
Another thing for those saying all we need to do is close the loopholes, get a clue. Close the loopholes, but if and only if the rates are lowered to at or below the OECD average. The US currently has the highest corporate rates in the OECD. Getting rid of the expenditures and keeping the rates where they are would be a disaster for our competitiveness and simply encourage more companies to move operations to favorable tax jurisdictions.
"Apple is exploiting an absurdity, one that we have not seen other corporations use," the senator said. "And the absurdity need not continue."
Apple's response should be: "When the absurdity is ended, we will stop exploiting it. Until then, we have a fiduciary responsibility to our shareholders (many of whom are US citizens, pension plans, and retirement funds) to maximize the return on our capital. Have a nice day."
If you find a loophole and it works and is legal, keep using it - and use it to its fullest.
Steve had a low tolerance for stupidity. I would love to hear him testify before this committee. I suspect he'd tell them the problem is of their own making, go *bleep* yourselves until it's fixed. I have work to get back to.
- Jasen.
You can bet they use every loophole they can.
We need to petition for these waste of time and taxpayer money witch hunts to end. Change the laws, prove one was broken or shut up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregord
I could not agree more with the comments from Rand Paul. This is a disgusting sideshow, political grandstanding at its worst.
Apple should give him a lot of money for his campaign. If Apple's guilty of anything, it's not getting politically involved to protect human rights and property rights from these scumbags. McCain, such a hypocrite, pretends to be a republican and "anti-tax" then says what he said today.
Also, it's dishonest to call this "Tax avoidance". It's like they're "avoiding" taxes they "owe".... but the reality is, they don't owe taxes to the US government for sales outside the USA.
They're non-taxes. You can't "Avoid" it if you don't owe it in the first place.
This "tax avoidance" talk comes from the presumption we're all slaves and that all of our income is subject to tax.
It's ludicrous--- and ABSURDLY GREEDY-- that these socialist scumbags think they are due a cut for business that happens completely outside the USA. Hell, they're not even due a cut for business within the USA.
Taxes are theft, and the thing about thieves is, they're never satisfied... they always want more and more.
The civil war, reconstruction and the money that goes with it.
Congress wants a raise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stef
Apple built the biggest, best company on earth, in history, and in the US. And we vilify it for no good reason?
They did the same thing to Standard Oil a hundred years ago (or so). It's SOP. Someone produces something extremely valuable, makes a boatload of money, then they get attacked in the press and Congress until they are knocked down a notch. It is the American way I guess.
So Apple should be required to fix the country? Is that before or after they take over and fix the ISPs, cable companies, cell phone services, schools, book publishers, TV nets, movie studios and record labels
Apple hasn't banked on reform for the same reason that they don't support any charities, Jobs felt the company didn't have the right to pick which charities and politics shareholder money should be spent on.
I would quibble with the "we" in your statement. The Democrat from the once great state of Michigan is the one doing the vilifying. We the people recognize that what serves to fill our government coffers is not also the best thing for our economy. We recognize that a lower broader corporate tax rate would not only help our economy, but may actually increase tax receipts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jasenj1
If you find a loophole and it works and is legal, keep using it - and use it to its fullest.
Steve had a low tolerance for stupidity. I would love to hear him testify before this committee. I suspect he'd tell them the problem is of their own making, go *bleep* yourselves until it's fixed. I have work to get back to.
Let's stop calling it a loophole. This plays into the lie that they are somehow "avoiding" tax. It's not a loophole that the USA can't collect taxes for business outside it's jurisdiction. It's simply the fact that the US Government has no right to a cut of business that occurs overseas.
It's sad that we've been conditioned to think and talk like slaves, and it's by design that they put things this way to try and even make thinking about it rationally impossible. (Like calling people who believe in science "climate warming deniers", which presumes climate warming is a fact they are in "denial" of.) Like the rejection of the science, that makes people incapable of considering scientific reality, politicians propagandize in a way that makes it difficult to recognize just how absurd their claims are.
Apple isn't "Avoiding" taxes, the TAXES DON'T EXIST!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crowley
I don't understand comments like this. Are you suggesting that Levin receives some kind of kick back for criticizing Apple? The norm is for politicians to be called greedy when they cozy up to companies in exchange for campaign contributions and/or personal gifts, so I'm not sure where this partciular ire, which is in quite a different direction, comes from.
It doesn't matter how much Apple earned. It's their money and they are not your slave to exploit.
Politicians don't "cozy up" to companies-- they say "it's a mighty nice business you have here, be a real shame if something were to happen to it.".
Politicians only have the threat of violence- that's all government can do-- and so this shake down racket has been going on a long time. The idea that politicians are cozy with corporations is part of the BS "corporations are too powerful" lie that is spread to keep people from realizing that it is politicians who have destroyed the economy.... and part and parcel to standard socialist propaganda.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MJ1970
I'm curious what changed then. What events or circumstances prompted this "consolidation?" Or was really no different from now in which we have "two" parties that are only superficially and marginally different from one another?
Poltiicians are corrupt in their nature. So they started passing laws that keep third parties off the ballots or give their own party an advantage. These laws are so entrenched now that the idea that America has "fair" elections is absurd. Third parties spend all their time and money trying to get on the ballots and aren't even allowed into the debates.... this makes the elections a sham and a joke.
Like in Iraq when Saddam Hussien won every time--- in America, the one party with two heads wins every time.
Yet again I find myself astounded at the poor quality of an AppleInsider article
Quote:
In opening remarks of a hearing Tuesday morning, the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations accused Apple of being the mastermind of elaborate tax evasion practices that are unique to the iPhone maker.
Now, did he really use the phrase 'tax evasion'? I doubt it, because if he was accusing Apple of tax evasion then this would be a criminal trial and not a senate hearing.
Seriously, if AI believes that the terms 'tax evasion' and 'tax avoidance' can be used interchangeably then they should stick to copying stuff off other sites and leave the real journalism to MacObserver.
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlituna
So Apple should be required to fix the country? Is that before or after they take over and fix the ISPs, cable companies, cell phone services, schools, book publishers, TV nets, movie studios and record labels
I never said they should be required to do anything. But if you're a business, you owe it to your shareholders to protect the assets of the business. Apple has a lot of money in cash, denominated in dollars. Those dollars are going down in value dramatically becuase of our corrupt political system, which inflates to cover their deficit spending. Apple's ability to hold onto those dollars is weakened by the fact that we have poltiicians in office who don't respect property rights... and we can see here them gleefully lusting after Apple's money, and acting outraged that they can't engorge themselves on it.
Apple owes its survival, in part, to the continued respect of property rights in america, and those rights are being ever eroded.
That's why they need to back political reform... not because I want it, or have any power to "require" them to.
Find one company with big name recognition, crucify them and let the others (who are contributing to your campaigns) off.
There's plenty of room for corporate tax reform.
This is not the way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rayz
Seriously, if AI believes that terns 'tax evasion' and 'tax avoidance' can be used interchangeably then they should stick to copying stuff off other sites and leave the real journalism to MacObserver.
Unfortunately, the term "Tax Avoidance" is designed specifically to sound like it means the same thing as "Tax Evasion"... the same way they say "automatic rifle" when they mean semi-automatic, or "assault weapon" when they mean "hunting rifle"... it's use of terminology to demonize.
It would be better if AI was more careful, but AI merely slipped into the trap that was laid for everybody who sees this dishonest political terminology.
End of story.