<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hi0m0w1kBOQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9rjLhjxQTws" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Rand Paul 2016
he's so brave that Rand Paul, standing up for a 413 billion market cap company that can afford legions of PR and lawyers. Apple is the vulnerable child of America. Whenever an Apple falls, a single mother weeps at the tragedy.
Do you disagree with his point that it is absurd to haul Apple executives before a senate committee and chastise them for legally minimizing their tax burden? Or that American companies have an incentive to keep profits overseas under the tax code? Sure, Apple is not some vulnerable mom and pop store, but is Rand Paul really the villain of this story?
I don't like the big corporation symbol we have but he has a damn good point. I went in with a bias against apple but the rational argument he is making stands.
The villainy comes from the tacit agreement between corporations and the politicians they bribe to not do anything to close up those overseas loopholes that some countries capitalize upon as safe havens. This dog and pony show is a useless waste of time. **** or get off the pot.
There is nothing wrong with what Apple is doing and Rand Paul is justified in pointing that out. Citizens are also right to point out that the corporate tax system is ****ing ridiculous, and Rand Paul, as a congressperson, should be working to rectify it.
This is an example of tribal ethics. Since Apple is a large company and outside our tribe, it's ok to treat them differently, to harass them. They can handle it. As Paul said, there are consequences for such harassment.
tribal ethics---your position on immigration making this a distinct irony---is an interesting word to use. but I'll play. If this constitutes "harassment", I'm sure it's balanced by the fact that they make billions off of America, plentiful nation of educated designers, programmers, infrastructure, and happy, happy buyers. Made very possible by government taxation, by the way, and public policy with regards to the H-1b visa. Roads and schools don't build themselves! What consequences? Are they going to move even more of their production to Mexico and the suicide factories in China? Ha. You think they're going to move design out of America (they've pretty much already done so with production) because Tim Cook had to play nasty with Congressmen? You think they're going to minimalize their tax bill because---oh wait--- I just find it odd that you find your hero ethics in a man who is defending a multi-billion dollar corporation, that has enough cash to buy a small country or two. To each their own, I suppose. That is more the issue than anything to which I subjected my lament. As per the choice of Apple as a scapegoat for America's terrible tax code, I don't particularly think it's a good one, and I suppose if I was in a more jovial mood, I'd start a scandal thread about how Congress was targeting Democrats. not too many publicans' in the Cupertino/Palo Alto area (but of course people are creating things there instead of necessarily exploiting others' creation, so I suppose it's to be expected).
He sure as hell isn't a hero of this story either. Rand Paul 2016 because he stood up and defended a multi-billion dollar company?
Stop wasting time and reform the tax code. Blaming a corporation, the officers and directors of whom owe fiduciary duties to shareholders to maximize profits, for taking advantage of loopholes to minimize their tax burden....when you're the group that has the authority to close up loopholes and chance the code...is among the dumbest things I can remember Congress doing collectively. So tired of the theatrics. Just lead already...or don't and step down. I'm becoming a huge advocate of tight term limits.
You're making Paul's point for him. We do everything possible to encourage moving overseas by punishing and harassing companies here. This is tribal ethics. Apple is rich, they are The Other, therefore Apple is wrong and indefensible, no matter what the facts are. Rand Paul is full of admiration rather than resentment of Apple's success. As he said, instead of a show trial, we should be applauding Apple and asking them what government can do to make it easier for companies like theirs to succeed and stay in country. How sad and loathsome do old geezers Levin and McCain look peddling the same tired moral superiority crap at Apple? One thing I will add is this is a very clever and subversive instance for Rand Paul to choose to make a stand. I guarantee this video is being passed around to every Apple employee. That matters.
even Al Gore? :grin: He's on the board of directors..but somehow I still don't think he'll vote for Paul.
It's not a requirement. It's a loophole. Any sane accountant would do it, sure - but it's not a requirement, period. I mean, this is nuts. You're saying they're punished by loopholes that save them billions because they're "required" to utilize said loopholes...that, again, save them billions. boo ****ing hoo.
In order to take advantage of the "loophole", Apple is compelled to move assets overseas to countries that don't punish them as severely. Old farts McCain and Levin are complaining about Apple doing this, when it's the laws they passed that incentivize (nay, compel as a fiduciary obligation to shareholders) Apple to do what any sane person would do. Namely, legally minimize their tax burden.
oh yeah, and China encourages moving overseas by committing its' workers to suicidal work standards. America should take a cut of that book. If you think this is "punishing and harassment", I don't want to know what you think of what the CCP does to the average Chinese worker, or worse yet, dissident. well, it's the price we pay for our cheap threads, and Apple's expensive as hell goods manufactured at cheap as hell rates.
