Michael Eavis Controversy

[eFestivals]

12.5%

that's the 'standard rate'.

Apple pays under 2%, and no doubt it's the same with many other companies where they've cut them a good rate to attract them to the country.

That's not the basis if a real and sustainable economy, that's just fucking over the competition in a war that will ultimately bankrupt Ireland.

[Teddington]

that's the 'standard rate'.

Apple pays under 2%, and no doubt it's the same with many other companies where they've cut them a good rate to attract them to the country.

That's not the basis if a real and sustainable economy, that's just fucking over the competition in a war that will ultimately bankrupt Ireland.

[ThomThomDrum]

that's the 'standard rate'.

Apple pays under 2%, and no doubt it's the same with many other companies where they've cut them a good rate to attract them to the country.

That's not the basis if a real and sustainable economy, that's just fucking over the competition in a war that will ultimately bankrupt Ireland.

[gibbin82]

Although people get early excited about individuals and businsses paying very little or no tax, they are actually doing nothing illegal. The problem is not them paying what they have to and no more, but the system we live in being designed to enable those who have money to keep it, while the low paid working class have no option but too pay taxes at excessive rates. Criticising U2 or the Rolling Stones is just blaming the result and not looking at the cause, while we do that the people who make the systems are just laughing at us while they count their rising fortunes.

While I might come across as a right red, my belief is that people should take more interest in politics and excercise their right to vote based on their understanding of the way politicians and other people at the top influence the way the systems affect them. Until we do that those with the money will be able to manipulate the system to keep and maximise it, while the rest of us look on in silence and pay for the system. While we make a fuss about bands such as the Rolling Stones but don't use our power to change things by voting, David Cameron and his like (in other countries) are just laughing at us, knowing the fortunes of theirs and their friends will be safe.

The percentage of the population who vote is reducing, while the profits of the rich is increasing.

In the UK wage rises for the majority are less than the rate of inflation, while politicians are arranging for 25%

[Teddington]

Although people get early excited about individuals and businsses paying very little or no tax, they are actually doing nothing illegal. The problem is not them paying what they have to and no more, but the system we live in being designed to enable those who have money to keep it, while the low paid working class have no option but too pay taxes at excessive rates. Criticising U2 or the Rolling Stones is just blaming the result and not looking at the cause, while we do that the people who make the systems are just laughing at us while they count their rising fortunes.

While I might come across as a right red, my belief is that people should take more interest in politics and excercise their right to vote based on their understanding of the way politicians and other people at the top influence the way the systems affect them. Until we do that those with the money will be able to manipulate the system to keep and maximise it, while the rest of us look on in silence and pay for the system. While we make a fuss about bands such as the Rolling Stones but don't use our power to change things by voting, David Cameron and his like (in other countries) are just laughing at us, knowing the fortunes of theirs and their friends will be safe.

The percentage of the population who vote is reducing, while the profits of the rich is increasing.

In the UK wage rises for the majority are less than the rate of inflation, while politicians are arranging for 25%

[eFestivals]

Its the basis of every tax based economy in Europe. And so by your rational none of them are sustainable

It was sustainable in the past, because moving companies around wasn't as practical and as easy as things are now - and that is in-part the result of what Ireland and Cyprus and other places have been doing, and that's making a run for the bottom.

It gets to mean that if the current ideas continue, no companies or anyone rich will pay tax and almost all of the tax burden will fall onto those people who have their income taxed via PAYE.

It's what the companies are pushing for. Apple proudly stood up the other day and claimed themselves law-abiding and moral, and then demanded of the USA govt that internal taxation of cut by half and 'repatriated money' (such as the £60Bn+ currently held in Ireland be free of all taxes (which will of course mean that they'll put all their business thru Ireland).

So the 'new moral' of the raving right nutters is to rob others and say it's those others fault that they've been robbed. Ain't life on the right grand?

[ThomThomDrum]

I didn't think I would say this on an economic matter but Efest is absolutely correct on this point.

It's fucking over the rest of the EU specifically. If Ireland had it's own currency this would be less of an issue, but it has the Euro.........Germany are not best pleased!

[ie_johnc]

that's the 'standard rate'.

Apple pays under 2%, and no doubt it's the same with many other companies where they've cut them a good rate to attract them to the country.

Edited May 24, 2013 by ie_johnc

[sparkythetortoise]

He seems remarkably unblemished

[eFestivals]

Although people get early excited about individuals and businsses paying very little or no tax, they are actually doing nothing illegal. The problem is not them paying what they have to and no more, but the system we live in being designed to enable those who have money to keep it, while the low paid working class have no option but too pay taxes at excessive rates. Criticising U2 or the Rolling Stones is just blaming the result and not looking at the cause...

And the cause is without doubt the stupid who vote for parties who will rob them - that's guaranteed to be all parties of the right, just in case that's passed you by - or the greedy of the right who arrogantly think that the rich don't hold any social responsibility back to the society that enriched them.,

BTW, did you know that UKIP voted against the tax-transparency measures in the EU Parliament the other day? They don't wish for countries to be able to collect the taxes that are due from companies and the rich.

[eFestivals]

The reason those agreements were put in place with Apple was obviously to attract a company like Apple to set up in Ireland and generate employment..........Something a government should never ever do!

Apple employ almost no one in Ireland. At the end of the day it's simply an office for tax purposes, to avoid taxes.

And any employment that has been 'generated' in Ireland has been robbed from elsewhere. So in actual fact no employment has been created, it's merely been moved from one place to another, and the only real advantage is gained by the company involved.

[sjseabass]

Ireland has had tax agreements with Apple way before it was in the Euro and frankly Germany can go fuck itself if the Irish local tax issues are getting up their nose. We bailled out banks here heavily invested in by Gernman bondholders and financial institutes, so effectively the German banks would not be affected by the current financial shit storm..........

The reason those agreements were put in place with Apple was obviously to attract a company like Apple to set up in Ireland and generate employment..........Something a government should never ever do!

[eFestivals]

Irish Finance Minister says otherwise.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/technology/noonan-rejects-special-apple-tax-deal-claim-1.1403512

One of them is lying. Apple's accounts get to prove who it is (and it's not Apple).

If you care to note what Ireland said, it's very specific. What it ignores is the money channelled thru Ireland which is not generated in Ireland.

[ThomThomDrum]

Apple employ almost no one in Ireland.

[Wooderson]

I agree with Neil wholeheartedly that these corp. tax rates end up screwing joe PAYE spudmuncher.

There are historical reasons why some countries (like Ireland, sadly) have had to plumb these depths - stuff I don't have any inclination in going into here/now.

I am flat out insulted that the "Irish" were in any way greedy however. Thats just ill-informed nonsense.

[Teddington]

4000 people in a country the size of Ireland is a lot of jobs.............

[The Nal]

Apple employ almost no one in Ireland. At the end of the day it's simply an office for tax purposes, to avoid taxes.

[ie_johnc]

Apple employ almost no one in Ireland. At the end of the day it's simply an office for tax purposes, to avoid taxes.

And any employment that has been 'generated' in Ireland has been robbed from elsewhere. So in actual fact no employment has been created, it's merely been moved from one place to another, and the only real advantage is gained by the company involved.

[Teddington]

I agree with Neil wholeheartedly that these corp. tax rates end up screwing joe PAYE spudmuncher.

There are historical reasons why some countries (like Ireland, sadly) have had to plumb these depths - stuff I don't have any inclination in going into here/now.

I am flat out insulted that the "Irish" were in any way greedy however. Thats just ill-informed nonsense.

[eFestivals]

4000 people in a country the size of Ireland is a lot of jobs.............

it's a minuscule number compared to the Apple revenues flowing thru the country. You'd expect the number to be ion the hundreds of thousands by normal measures.

[Wooderson]

Not that I have any loyalty or fondness for the Irish gov/IMF it has to be said. Theyre about to sell of our entire forestry resource for the equiv of 3 weeks worth of interest repayments on the national debt.

That is sickening.

[Wooderson]

As someone who worked in Dublin for 2 years I can categorically say it is not nonsense. Why do you think it is?

[ie_johnc]

One of them is lying. Apple's accounts get to prove who it is (and it's not Apple).

If you care to note what Ireland said, it's very specific. What it ignores is the money channelled thru Ireland which is not generated in Ireland.

[dan05delaney]

Wrong, it was the stage security who removed the item.

[eFestivals]

There are historical reasons why some countries (like Ireland, sadly) have had to plumb these depths

yup - one of them being how Britain robbed Ireland blind for centuries. There's a sort-of sweet justice to Ireland now robbing back.

But at the end of the day, the answer to robbery isn't to rob others.